You can’t be an environmentalist and eat meat …or can you? | Irina Gerry | TEDxBoston

Environmental Concerns & Challenges - The environmental movement faces a disconnect between values and actions, leading to feelings of guilt and inadequacy [1][2] - A significant portion of the population (72% of Americans) cares about the environment but feels unsure about effective actions [3] - Modern society implicates everyone in climate hypocrisy due to reliance on technology, travel, and infrastructure [6] - Food choices, particularly meat consumption, are a sensitive topic due to their connection to identity, culture, and tradition, with meat production accounting for 12-20% of global greenhouse gas emissions [7] - Shifting to a plant-based diet globally could reduce food-related emissions by as much as 73%, according to Oxford University research [8] Proposed Solutions & Strategies - The industry suggests shifting the focus from blame and shame to progress, healthier options, and optimism [10][16] - The industry advocates for working with human instincts rather than against them, elevating global living standards sustainably [12][13] - The industry highlights examples like Denmark's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% this decade through policies that incentivize sustainable lifestyles [14][15] - The industry emphasizes that environmentalism is about continuous improvement, not perfection, advocating for billions of imperfect steps [17][20] - The industry suggests practical actions like reducing meat consumption by half and composting food scraps, which could avoid the equivalent of 14 million tons of emissions in the US [17][19]