Let's balance out

It isn't as bad as you think. Or maybe it is.

Another week has passed and we're back with the climate updates! This is "Let's balance out" and you'll read one good news and one bad news about the climate crisis. Shall we begin?

So what do you want first? The good news or the bad news?

It is now clear to everyone that the best way to preserve the climate in the small ways of each one of us is to pursue a plant based diet. The meat industry is responsible for 14,5% of greenhouse emissions and one of the boldest consequences of meat consumption is, amongst others, this summer's fires in the Amazon forest.

So you would expect every institution that has the aim of saving the planet to promote a vegan lifestyle (and no, it's not a vegan dictatorship), right?

Actually in the EU is quite the opposite. As The Guardian reports, the EU spends tens of millions of euros a year to promote meat eating. They do that by funding campaigns whose aim is to discourage the tendency to stop eating meat that is due to "fake news" spread about how meat could give you cancer or the mistreatment of animals bred for food. So the intent is not actually climate related, and it's not wrong per se.

But you cannot ignore the climate implications of encouraging meat eating, and this approach has been labeled as "indefensible", as the EU claims to be in the front lines of fighting for the environment.

On the other hand, Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, announced he wants the city to be carbon neutral by 2030. He says he has huge ambitions for the environment, adding he couldn't not have since it's the most important topic right now.
He's facing the May elections and this is one of his election points.

He also introduced the Ulez (ultra-low emission zone) in the centre of the city, and some are saying that he should expand that to the whole city.