Minister is simply telling it like it is

Our environment minister says that we should “eat less meat.”

Great idea! This is irrefutably accurate. Jason Kenney asks “why is the Environment Min. telling Albertans to ‘eat less meat.’ ” Well Jason, this is because animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the combined emissions from all transportation systems on the planet. Replacing livestock products with better alternatives is thought to be even more effective in fighting climate change than replacing all fossil fuels with renewable energy.

There has been enough scientific investigation into the harmful effects of the animal agriculture industry on the environment that anyone vying for public office who isn’t aware of this link is bordering on wilful ignorance.

The only reason this should be a news story is to commend the environment minister — also responsible for the province’s Climate Change Office — for upholding the responsibilities of her post. And an invitation to participate in a month-long challenge to eat less meat is hardly extreme. If our environment minister can’t even make common-sense recommendations like this, what is she there for and what does it say about our government?

Shannon Phillips, don’t recant.

Lauren Libke, Edmonton