People are used to seeing stark warnings on tobacco products alerting them about the potentially deadly risks to health. Now a study suggests similar labelling on food could help them make wiser choices about not just their health, but the health of the planet.

The research, by academics at Durham University, found that warning labels including a graphic image – similar to those warning of impotence, heart disease or lung cancer on cigarette packets – could reduce selections of meals containing meat by 7-10%.

It is a change that could have a material impact on the future of the planet. According to a recent YouGov poll, 72% of the UK population classify themselves as meat-eaters. But the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government on its net zero goals, has said the UK needs to slash its meat consumption by 20% by 2030, and 50% by 2050, in order to meet them.

    • dangblingus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Not really. The meat industry makes INSANE amounts of GHG emissions. Whataboutism surely won’t solve climate change.

      • tsonfeir@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Calling something whataboutism won’t either. That’s just lazy and dismissive.

        The CONSUMER is not going to make a difference. The change needs to happen on an industry scale.

      • alcamtar@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        How so? Cow farts? The grass is going to emit the same gasses whether it decomposes in a cow stomach or in the dirt. I guess the solution to carbon emissions is to pave the earth! No more organics polluting everything.

        • Sharkwellington@lemmy.one
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          1 year ago

          Not necessarily cow farts, but manure, fertilizer, and landscaping.

          Methane comes primarily from livestock digestion (known as enteric fermentation) and the way livestock manure is managed. It contributes the most to agricultural emissions of greenhouse gases.

          The second largest contributor is nitrous oxide, which results mostly from agricultural fertilizer application to soils and from manure management.

          Carbon dioxide emissions come from increased decomposition of plant matter in soils and from converting lands to agricultural uses. Those emissions are partially offset by the increased plant matter stored in cropland soils.

          You’re not wrong about the same gasses being created by decomposing grass and digested grass, but like most things, it’s a multifaceted issue.

          As they say, you can’t get snakes from chicken eggs.

        • KapiteinPoffertje@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Most cows eat soy which is produced on former rainforest grounds.

          Additionally, we are better off eating/using what is produced on farmlands directly instead of feeding it to animals. That is much more energy efficient!

          • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            1 year ago

            we are better off eating/using what is produced on farmlands directly

            we do. what we feed to animals is mostly the parts of plants that people can’t or won’t eat.

            • jose1324@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              That’s just not true lmao. 90% of soy production is for animals. Not humans.

              • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                1 year ago

                85% of all soy is put into an oil press. the byproduct of oil production is called soycake or soy meal.

                that makes up the vast majority of the soy that is fed to animals.

                • jose1324@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  So… What i said? Lmao what trap card. Your source doesn’t say anything about “soy humans can’t eat”. It’s just normal ass soy pushed into soy cakes.

                  • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    1 year ago

                    “soy cake” is the industrial waste from the production of soybean oil. exactly what i said. also, your estimate of how much soy ends up as animal feed was off by a lot.

                  • commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    1 year ago

                    85% of all soybeans are pressed for oil for people. that can’t be true if 90% of soy production is for livestock. but i have the facts on my side. i’ll accept your apology any time.

          • Aux@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            No cows in UK eat soy.

            Also idk about you, but I can’t eat grass

    • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Most importantly cement. Believe it or not it’s a huge chunk of pollution and requires a lot of energy to produce. Even funnier is the fact we do have eco-friendly cements but they are not being used because they are a bit more expensive and no demand.

      • tsonfeir@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Absolutely. Lots of places have building codes, this should be one of them. When the demand goes up, the price goes down. Don’t even get me started on car tires.