Reduced Meat Consumption in China

Introduction

One of the most important issues in the contemporary world concerns climate change and environmental sustainability. This s an issue that has gained public attention as a result of the significant changes that have taken place to the global climate, especially considering global warming. It has led to a situation where it has increasingly become apparent that it is essential to make sure that steps are taken to promote the advancement of sustainable development in order to promote the reduction of various risks to the environment. There are numerous instances of the effects of global warming that can be seen across the world, as seen in the manner through which the polar icecaps, especially that of the Arctic, are melting. The resultant rise in sea levels has the potential of leading to massive climatic disasters and destabilisation that is a direct threat to all natural life. There are numerous ways through which governments and individuals can act in order to make sure that there is the advancement of sustainable development across the world. One of these would be ensuring that there is creating a focus on meat production and consumption. Meat production and consumption can be considered to be among the most energy intensive processes across the world. This is because meat production involves considerable use of energy as well as effort in order to bring meat into the market. The entire process often results in a negative impact on the environment because not only does it involve the consumption of considerable energy, which is produced at the expense of the environment, but it also leads to the production of considerable waste, which is difficult to dispose of. It is therefore essential to ensure that initiatives are taken to promote the reduction of meat consumption across the world in order to advance the interests of environmental sustainability. In this paper, there will be a discussion of the process through the analysis of a case study on the reduction of meat consumption in China.

Description

The reduction of meat consumption is considered one of the best meant to make sure that there is the establishment of sustainable development. This is because the process will involve the reduction of emissions and energy consumption that is involved in the production of meat. Meat consumption is considered one of the biggest threats to the environment because it is a process that involves a considerable in take of meat, which is produced using considerable amounts of energy that increase carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Meat consumption has in recent years, especially in the developing world, risen from a rare treat to a staple in most households. This has led to a situation where meat production has increased considerably in order to cater for the growing market. While increased meat consumption can be looked upon as a sign of increased prosperity, it has also come to be a threat to the environment. In order to mitigate this threat, initiatives are being put in place to promote the reduced consumption of meat. It is estimated that if meat consumption is reduced, there is likely to be a reduction of hundreds of millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from the livestock industry across the world. Such a reduction would help in the advancement of means through which to enable sustainable development in such a way that the environment will be protected for the sake of future generations. The keeping and consumption of livestock for meat is among one of the biggest contributors to the emissions that lead to global warming. It is estimated that the keeping of livestock creates emissions that are more than the entire global transport sector; a sign that it is indeed a serious problem that has to be brought under control in the cause of environmental sustainability. Livestock often emit methane, which is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas, which the production of feed for the livestock leads to large carbon emissions.

The promotion of lifestyle changes is one of the most important ways through which to ensure that there is a significant reduction in carbon emissions. This is especially the case where meat consumption is concerned because as the global rate of meat consumption increases, there is a massive potential of its leading to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. There is need for policymakers as well as individuals in society to make sure that they seek solutions to the meat consumption problem in such a way that it is possible to reduce consumption. The reduction of meat consumption will ensure that there are significant changed in the livestock industry, which are likely to bring about more sustainable changes aimed at bringing about significant cuts to the production of emissions. The achievement of this goal cannot be underestimated because it is one of the most reasonable means that can be implemented to bring about more sustainable development, especially considering that the global population is continuously on the rise. Were meat consumption to continue at the same level as is currently the case, then it is likely that it could lead to the creation of considerable environmental problems. This is especially the case where there will not only be global warming, but it is likely that there will also be climatic changes that will be detrimental to the entire natural environment. Therefore, tackling climate change through encouraging reduced meat consumption involves not only sound scientific judgement, but also entrepreneurial support as well as responsible political decisions. Furthermore, it is also important that there is the sensitisation of the general public in such a way that brings about their involvement in the process because it is through them that the objective of reduced meat consumption can be effectively implemented. There is need to ensure that there is a belief in the carbon reduction concept within the public so that they can be able to slowly adapt to it and make it an essential part of their lives.

Case Study

One of the most significant developments in the Chinese meat industry is that meat has moved from being an extremely scarce product to a regular staple in many Chinese households. This is mainly because of the emergence of China as a global economic powerhouse, which has ensured that there is an increase in the number of people within its population within the middle class. A consequence has been that the increased meat production has essentially come about because of the greater purchasing power that the Chinese population has achieved when compared to previous decades. Furthermore, the consumption of pork in China has also increased significantly due to its affordability, to such an extent that it has become the world’s largest consumer. While China is still much lower than the United States when it comes to the average consumption of meat, seems to be catching up. This is considering that in recent years, while meat consumption in the United States has essentially remained stable, the Chinese meat consumption has increased significantly. A consequence has been that Chinese meat companies are seeking opportunities to cater for the demand in the domestic market. Such initiative have led to a considerable increase in the availability of meat in the Chinese market to such an extent that it has not only become cheaper, but it has also become a basic part of the nation’s diet. However, meat consumption has also brought with it considerable environmental ramifications, with many of them being negative. Policymakers in the country have come to the realisation that the increase in meat consumption within the population carries with it an environmental risk that cannot be ignored. This is the case because the Chinese government has proven itself to be among the foremost in the world when it comes to taking measures to bring about environmental protection and sustainable development.

As the consumer of about a quarter of the world’s meat, China has the responsibility of developing policies aimed at reducing its meat consumption. This is because China has a lot to lose if it continues on the same path of meat production and consumption as it is currently on. Not only does an increase in meat production have a negative environmental impact through greenhouse gas production, and the clearing of forests in order to create space for feed production, but it is also faced with the potential of an increase in a number of health problems. Among these is an increase in cases of obesity, which is becoming a considerable problem in the country. In recent years, China has seen more than 100 million cases of diabetes cases, which is the largest in the world. This condition is mostly brought about through obesity, cases of which can come about through cases of excessive meat consumption. However, there is recognition that despite the best efforts by the Chinese government, it is likely going to be a challenge to convince its population to reduce its meat consumption. One of the reasons behind it is that it will be difficult to convince the growing middle class to give up on meat, which has become an essential part of their diet as well as a sign of their prosperity. Furthermore, the rapid urbanisation of the country could create problems because under such circumstances, demand for meat is likely to increase rather than decrease.