Last week, diplomatic, environmental and corporate leaders from around the world converged on Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for Rio+20, The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. According to the event's website, "the conference will focus on two themes: (a) a green economy in the context of sustainable development poverty eradication; and (b) the institutional framework for sustainable development."
Though pundits were less than optimistic about the actual outcomes of the conference, there was much excitement around such a large conference with global participation and a mix of private and public sector leaders. These are people who have devoted their careers to saving our planet so they must be the most green, environmentally responsible of us all right? Not necessarily? Well, at least the world's largest gathering to discuss the future of the environment must have been planned to leave the smallest impact on the earth, right? I mean, at the very least, I'm sure the meals were vegetarian. Knowing that the United Nations' very own Food and Agriculture Organization published "Livestock's Long Shadow", in which they found that the meat industry is "one of the most significant contributors to today's most serious environmental problems...urgent action is required to remedy the situation." They also found that livestock is responsible for more greenhouse gasses than the transportation industry. So of course they wouldn't want to add to the problem by serving meat, right? They wouldn't dream of being so hypocritical.
But they were. And they did. Meat consumption is different from other environmental issues because it requires personal reflection. It requires a level of commitment to rise above cultural norms. It's not as easy as recycling or driving a hybrid car. But removing meat from one's diet is the single most important and impactful thing you can do to save the environment.
Are you ready?
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