Why You Should Embrace A Climate Diet — A Podcast Interview

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As a climate activist and writer, I chronicle decarbonization in its many forms. I must be making some small headway in educating and informing others about the impacts of industrial agriculture on planetary health, for example, as I’ve started to be critiqued by media spaces such as Feedstuffs. They decry my work, saying I argue (quoting me although they never reached out to get an actual quote from me) that industrial agriculture is “a bad combination of hazards: methane from cow burps, inhumanely caged animals, toxic insecticides, crops that deplete the soil, and smothering of the small farms.” Incorrect attribution aside, I am an advocate of sustainable agriculture, and I was delighted to be a recent guest on a Climate Diet podcast, “Climate and Cuisine” to discuss the powerful intersection of food choices, climate change, and societal shifts toward a net zero world.

Climate Diet is a non-profit that sheds light on a critical, yet often-overlooked climate change culprit — animal agriculture. Recognized as the second-largest producer of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, animal farming is also the leading cause of deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion. The organization acknowledges that, while seeking environmental-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels is essential, it’s equally important for humanity to choose a more sustainable, plant based diet. The Climate Diet crew strives to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and food insecurity.

Its podcast host, executive director Jane DeMarines, initiated our conversation with curiosity about how my life as a vegetarian was integral to my writing on CleanTechnica. Initially, DeMarines was interested in unpacking my perspective about how reducing meat consumption and embracing plant based diets can positively impact methane emissions and deforestation. The conversation moved quickly into exploring the role of younger generations in driving climate awareness; corporate accountability; renewable energy; and the human stories behind climate anxiety. In turn, my focus during the podcast was to offer a hopeful lens on creating systemic sustainable change in these dark times of our democracy.

A 2023 survey springboarded our conversation, as it concluded that 45% were eating less meat and dairy. I discussed my lifelong vegetarianism and how mentoring is important to switch to this type of climate diet. My evolution in vegetarianism has an ethical component and recognizes how humans need to be conscious about our interplay with the natural world. Moreover, vegetarianism eliminates the raising of cattle — cattle degrade the environment with production of methane through their poops and burps.

“If we can lessen the amount of cattle that are raised for consumption of meat products,” I suggested, “the world would be a healthier place.” Because more and more people are learning about how to design meals with less meat, there is hope in a future in which there is reduced reliance on red meat in western diets. More products are available in the marketplace that offer an introduction to plant based eating, although flexibility is key to cooking without meat for those who were raised with meat-eating as cultural norm and signifier of status.

The influence of young people on climate diets has increased due to climate anxiety. I reminded DeMarines about the importance of the Sunrise movement. They deconstruct corporate influence that attempts to persuade individuals that they are responsible for the climate crisis — rather than the fossil fuel industry. “This generation, more than ever, understands what their future will be like,” I offered. They confront a future with “extreme storms, insurance debacles, lifestyle choices that we will never have to make in my generation.”

I talked on an unusually rainy day in Florida, and I was filmed inside my Tesla Model Y. I admitted that we in Florida are caught in a very difficult situation in which the governor has forbidden the phrase “climate change” in any legislation. Paradoxically, the state is experiencing dangerous effects of a warming ocean — terrible storms, insurers escaping the state, citizens who use their life savings to pay for increasing homeowner costs. To help make meaning of this, I argued that climate activists need to use language that speaks to everyday people — language that is local, accessible, and doesn’t include a lot of numbers and jargon. “We have to speak a language that people understand,” I continued, whether it is about the food they eat, the electricity that can power their lives, or why we advocate on a larger scale for systemic climate action. “We have to assuage concerns but also be active listeners.”

Transitioning to the larger political environment in Washington, DC and the proclamations that are emerging from the new administration, DeMarines outlined how solar energy, the Inflation Reduction Act, conservation, and other pieces of legislation already funded by Congress are in jeopardy. I mused that, based on Trump 1.0, there will be a lot of internal fighting within this version of the Trumpsters, and, because “democracy is messy,” these next few years are likely to be even more so. Yet businesses plan out five, ten, twenty years in advance, I reminded the audience, noting that I am an eternal optimist. They see opportunities to save money through decarbonization, I continued. “They’re not necessarily doing it for the common good — they’re doing it because it’s the right thing for their business. Businesses do not want stranded assets.”

Additionally, a significant amount of the IRA funding went to red states — “which wasn’t, perhaps, framed as well as it could have been by the Democratic party.” Red state governors and senators took credit for the manufacturing boom even though they didn’t vote for the associated IRA legislation. “That being said, we’re going to get some sadness,” I acknowledged. “We’re probably going to get some offshore wind projects slowed because they’ll be concerned about the regulatory process. Solar has been in the works for decades. We know that Carter, the president who just passed, had it on the roof of the White House as an example. Then the Reagan administration removed it. We’ve made a lot of progress since then — the cost has gone down, the battery storage capability has increased exponentially, and I think these are positives for business, for communities, and I do believe they will continue — perhaps not at the rate as if Harris had been elected.”

DeMarines was interested in the droughts that are hitting many parts of the world and their effects on agriculture. Extreme weather is a key component within a populist fear of immigrants coming into the US and other countries — it’s often a result of loss of agricultural viability. “Of course, people would rather stay in their own communities with their cultural familiarity,” I offered, “but they cannot do so. And, so, corporations — Big Oil, etc. — really do not want to limit their bottom line profitability until absolutely necessary. So it’s easier to deflect to a fear of the Other” by ignoring the plight of agriculture around the world.

Final Thoughts About A Climate Diet

With a mission to promote environmentally sustainable eating habits, Climate Diet is urging policymakers, industry leaders, and consumers to support new guidelines released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Report emphasizes the need for sustainable food systems to address climate change by adopting sustainable dietary habits at home, in schools, and across institutions.

The Report highlights the importance of reducing the environmental impact of food production, specifically calling for increased consumption of plant based foods and decreased reliance on resource-intensive animal agriculture. This is in response to growing scientific consensus linking agricultural practices to approximately 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

“The USDA’s proactive stance on integrating sustainability into dietary recommendations is a significant step toward mitigating climate change,” said DeMarines. “This guidance aligns with Climate Diet’s mission to educate individuals on the environmental impact of their food choices. By empowering consumers to shift toward plant based diets, we can collectively reduce emissions, conserve water, and protect biodiversity.”

Producing a single pound of beef requires roughly 1,800 gallons of water, compared to 16 gallons for a pound of lettuce. By reducing the consumption of animal products, the USDA estimates the potential to lower US agricultural emissions by up to 20% by 2030, contributing significantly to the nation’s climate goals. “Our planet is at a critical tipping point,” added DeMarines. “The Report’s guidance provides an opportunity for transformative change in the way we eat and produce food. But we need all hands on deck—policymakers, businesses, and individuals alike—to ensure these guidelines become actionable solutions.”