By: Shriya Swaminathan
When the solution to climate change fails to address one of its leading drivers, it’s time to don our critical thinking hats and hold leaders of “developed countries and advanced economies” accountable. Earlier this week, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders convened at the luxury Carbis Bay Hotel in Cornwall, England for the G7 Summit led by the United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This event aims to discuss solutions to global crises- including the very prevalent and catastrophic issue of climate change.
Leaders from the G7 countries— Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US—published a 25-page communique pledging to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, slash emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and commit to conserving 30 percent of lands and oceans by 2030. They also plan to dedicate $100 billion annually through 2025 to assist developing nations to reach key climate targets. Admirable declarations, but how feasible are these promises without addressing a leading contributor to the climate crisis- ANIMAL AGRICULTURE?
According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, animal agriculture accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Additional studies report a higher percentage going up to a whopping 87% in a recent position paper published by Dr. Sailesh Rao and his team at Climate Healers in the Journal of Ecological Society. However, if the G7 members are feasting on “locally and sustainably sourced” seafood, sirloin steaks, Cornish cheese platters, and an upscale barbeque by the beach, it appears that it would behoove them to leave discussions of animal agriculture at bay. We were quite upset that the delicious Beyond Cookout Burgers didn’t make it to the grills for the lavish barbeque!
The most notable criticism of the summit leaders’ hypocrisy comes from fearless climate warrior Greta Thunberg. She took to social media and stated-
“The climate and ecological crisis is rapidly escalating. G7 pours fantasy amounts into fossil fuels as CO2 emissions are forecast for 2nd biggest annual rise ever.
“But, the G7 leaders really seem to be having a good time presenting their empty climate commitments and repeating old unfulfilled promises.
“Of course this calls for a steak-and-lobster-BBQ-celebration while jet planes perform aerobatics in the sky above the G7 resort!”
Needless to say, her post has garnered much support from all over the globe!
The G7 leaders will attend the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled in November in Glasgow, Scotland. Hopefully, they get the memo on animal agriculture by then and will make additional commitments to proactively fight the climate crisis.
