In
several of his interviews to promote his most recent book on climate
change, “Our Choice,” environmental campaigner, former US Vice President
and Nobel Prize laureate Al Gore has spoken with US broadcast
journalist Diane Sawyer and Australian Leigh Sales on the role of meat
reduction in halting global warming.
When Ms. Sales asked if he
agreed with British climate expert Lord Nicholas Stern’s call for people
to be vegetarian to reduce emissions, Mr. Gore replied, “It’s a
legitimate point of view.
Nick Stern is a very able advocate for
whom I have enormous respect… I have cut back sharply on the meat that I
eat and it’s absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of
diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global
crisis. Not only because of the CO2 involved, but also because of the
water consumed in the process.”
The former vice president went
on to say, “You can add in the health consequences as well. We’ve all
heard from our doctors for many years that vegetables and fruits should
occupy a bigger part of all of our diets, and that’s important for a lot
of reasons. I’ve made those changes.”
A green bravo, Your
Excellency, for highlighting the important role of plant based foods in
addressing climate change. May more people hasten in their adoption of a
diet that optimizes health for people and planet.
Referencehttp://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/11/05/2733587.htmhttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php.az=view_all&address=389x6919521http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/03/sawyer-beck-gore/