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Twelve Years
We are facing an imminent climate catastrophe. The United Nations says that we’ve got about twelve years left to avert that catastrophe.
Twelve years.
That is not a lot of time. Remember when Steve Jobs announced the iPhone? That seems like yesterday. It occurred in 2007 — twelve years ago. Remember when J.K. Rowling announced the last Harry Potter Novel? That seems like yesterday. It was in 2007 — twelve years ago.
So what should we do given that we have twelve years and that twelve years is not a lot of time?
We could turn to technology and hope that we can find and implement some sort of “fix.” That sounds terrific but what is the likelihood that a real solution can be found and implemented in twelve years?
That is a rhetorical question. The chances are very slim.
We could turn to government and ask it to find a solution. That, too, sounds terrific but can we think of many instances where government has been responsive to public concerns and has done something that does not directly benefit large corporations, who constitute the true government?
That, too, is a rhetorical question. The chances are very slim.
As I watch the Extinction Rebellion folks glue themselves to various objects and demand that the government create and cede authority to a “Citizens’ Assembly” that will decide how to avert climate catastrophe, I wonder — seriously — if these people live on the same planet as I do. Does anyone really believe that there is a snowball’s chance in hell of that happening?
Is there anything that we could do that would make a difference?
Yes, there is one thing that we could do that does not require technological innovation or governmental action.
That one thing: we can transition to a vegan diet — NOW.
We have known for years now that animal agriculture is horribly unsound in terms of inefficient resource use. Animals have to consume many pounds of grain or forage to produce one pound of meat. Animal agriculture involves an inefficient use of water; it…
