Ban on fake meat will worsen climate
Florida’s ban on safe, eco-friendly meat that is humanely cultivated from animal cells not only tramples on our personal freedom to make conscientious choices but also helps to ensure that residents will suffer the devastating impacts of stronger and deadlier hurricanes due to worsening climate conditions.
The bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed May 1 banned lab-grown meat, also called “cultivated” meat because it’s grown from animal stem cells. The ban is meant to protect cattle ranchers and the “integrity of American agriculture,” he said.
Animal agriculture is responsible for 65% of global emissions of nitrous oxide − a gas with 296 times the climate-changing power of carbon dioxide − in addition to massive amounts of other greenhouse gases.
As we continue to dangerously alter the Earth’s atmosphere, extreme weather events become more frequent and more severe. Oxford Martin School researchers found that if everyone stopped eating animal flesh, we would save more than 8 million lives by 2050.
And, despite the recent bans, a report from the consultancy Kearney predicts that by 2040, 60% of the “meat” people eat will be grown or replaced by vegan meat.
Thankfully, we don’t have to wait for cultivated meat or reasonable policy: A stroll down the aisle at Publix shows that healthy, humane vegan meat is at our fingertips.