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Let’s help the planet, one lunch at a time | Kamilla Hrubešová | TEDxYouth@ISPrague


what did you have for lunch yesterday

what did you have for lunch yesterday just for a moment turn to the person

just for a moment turn to the person

just for a moment turn to the person next to you and tell them

okay times up this wasn’t a memory test

okay times up this wasn’t a memory test this was actually a food choice question

this was actually a food choice question

this was actually a food choice question how did you decide on that meal was it

how did you decide on that meal was it

how did you decide on that meal was it price taste texture flavor fitness

price taste texture flavor fitness

price taste texture flavor fitness culture convenience or calories or was

culture convenience or calories or was

culture convenience or calories or was it based on what’s in like gluten-free

it based on what’s in like gluten-free

it based on what’s in like gluten-free vegetarian raw or vegan or was it based

vegetarian raw or vegan or was it based

vegetarian raw or vegan or was it based on some restrictions that you have like

on some restrictions that you have like

on some restrictions that you have like allergies

allergies

allergies doubtless we all have different ways of

doubtless we all have different ways of

doubtless we all have different ways of choosing what we eat but have you ever

choosing what we eat but have you ever

choosing what we eat but have you ever thought of choosing your meal based on

thought of choosing your meal based on

thought of choosing your meal based on its carbon footprint I asked myself this

its carbon footprint I asked myself this

its carbon footprint I asked myself this question about a year ago in my

question about a year ago in my

question about a year ago in my environmental studies class I wanted to

environmental studies class I wanted to

environmental studies class I wanted to see whether something as small as what I

see whether something as small as what I

see whether something as small as what I chose for lunch

chose for lunch

chose for lunch could have an impact on the entire

could have an impact on the entire

could have an impact on the entire school’s co2 emissions and so I decided

school’s co2 emissions and so I decided

school’s co2 emissions and so I decided to analyze my school’s eating habits

to analyze my school’s eating habits

to analyze my school’s eating habits what difference does it make whether I

what difference does it make whether I

what difference does it make whether I choose this meal or that one but let’s

choose this meal or that one but let’s

choose this meal or that one but let’s start at the beginning what exactly is a

start at the beginning what exactly is a

start at the beginning what exactly is a carbon footprint well the technical

carbon footprint well the technical

carbon footprint well the technical definition is the amount of carbon

definition is the amount of carbon

definition is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by

dioxide released into the atmosphere by

dioxide released into the atmosphere by our actions and because I’m discussing

our actions and because I’m discussing

our actions and because I’m discussing lunch these actions have to do with food

lunch these actions have to do with food

lunch these actions have to do with food production so from growing to packaging

production so from growing to packaging

production so from growing to packaging from transporting to consuming and then

from transporting to consuming and then

from transporting to consuming and then wasting our food how do all of these

wasting our food how do all of these

wasting our food how do all of these produce carbon dioxide food production

produce carbon dioxide food production

produce carbon dioxide food production is responsible for about 25 percent of

is responsible for about 25 percent of

is responsible for about 25 percent of the entire world’s co2 emissions so what

the entire world’s co2 emissions so what

the entire world’s co2 emissions so what do you think can we really do something

do you think can we really do something

do you think can we really do something to save the planet just by changing what

to save the planet just by changing what

to save the planet just by changing what we eat

we eat

we eat in fact just by changing what we eat for

in fact just by changing what we eat for

in fact just by changing what we eat for lunch I went to meet the cafeteria

lunch I went to meet the cafeteria

lunch I went to meet the cafeteria managers and I go to Doha and she gave

managers and I go to Doha and she gave

managers and I go to Doha and she gave me valuable information about our

me valuable information about our

me valuable information about our schools eating habits and that’s where

schools eating habits and that’s where

schools eating habits and that’s where the fun started on average our school

the fun started on average our school

the fun started on average our school produces a

produces a

produces a 3,700 meals per month the equivalent of

3,700 meals per month the equivalent of

3,700 meals per month the equivalent of which are about 500 kilograms of food

which are about 500 kilograms of food

which are about 500 kilograms of food and we have a wide variety of choices we

and we have a wide variety of choices we

and we have a wide variety of choices we have beef pork chicken fish vegetarian

have beef pork chicken fish vegetarian

have beef pork chicken fish vegetarian and soy options and as you can see

and soy options and as you can see

and soy options and as you can see chicken is really popular at our school

chicken is really popular at our school

chicken is really popular at our school next I wanted to find out how I can

next I wanted to find out how I can

next I wanted to find out how I can convert food kilograms to kilograms of

convert food kilograms to kilograms of

convert food kilograms to kilograms of co2 how can I figure out how much co2

co2 how can I figure out how much co2

co2 how can I figure out how much co2 has to be released into the atmosphere

has to be released into the atmosphere

has to be released into the atmosphere for the production of each of these main

for the production of each of these main

for the production of each of these main ingredients and I decided to use a

ingredients and I decided to use a

ingredients and I decided to use a reliable converter called green AIDS so

reliable converter called green AIDS so

reliable converter called green AIDS so for example one kilogram of chicken the

for example one kilogram of chicken the

for example one kilogram of chicken the production of which produces about 6.9

production of which produces about 6.9

production of which produces about 6.9 almost seven kilograms of co2 whereas to

almost seven kilograms of co2 whereas to

almost seven kilograms of co2 whereas to produce one kilogram of veggies only

produce one kilogram of veggies only

produce one kilogram of veggies only about two kilograms of co2 are released

about two kilograms of co2 are released

about two kilograms of co2 are released into the environment so what should we

into the environment so what should we

into the environment so what should we do well I went to meat I decided to

do well I went to meat I decided to

do well I went to meat I decided to convert the entire schools lunches all

convert the entire schools lunches all

convert the entire schools lunches all the meals combined what number do we

the meals combined what number do we

the meals combined what number do we come to just from the lunches we eat we

come to just from the lunches we eat we

come to just from the lunches we eat we produce about 4.5 tonnes of co2 in one

produce about 4.5 tonnes of co2 in one

produce about 4.5 tonnes of co2 in one month but what does this actually mean

month but what does this actually mean

month but what does this actually mean well let’s take your average car how

well let’s take your average car how

well let’s take your average car how much does this average car going in an

much does this average car going in an

much does this average car going in an average speed have to go to produce as

average speed have to go to produce as

average speed have to go to produce as much co2 as our school does in one month

much co2 as our school does in one month

much co2 as our school does in one month 16,000 kilometers let’s put this in

16,000 kilometers let’s put this in

16,000 kilometers let’s put this in perspective what about one school year

perspective what about one school year

perspective what about one school year how far would that car have to go in one

how far would that car have to go in one

how far would that car have to go in one school year to emit as much co2 as our

school year to emit as much co2 as our

school year to emit as much co2 as our school does in that one year you’d have

school does in that one year you’d have

school does in that one year you’d have to travel around the world four times in

to travel around the world four times in

to travel around the world four times in that car to emit as much as we do so

that car to emit as much as we do so

that car to emit as much as we do so what can we do

what can we do

what can we do well what if we go vegetarian what if we

well what if we go vegetarian what if we

well what if we go vegetarian what if we ban all made from our cafeteria my

ban all made from our cafeteria my

ban all made from our cafeteria my results showed that by eliminating all

results showed that by eliminating all

results showed that by eliminating all meat meals we can go from having a

meat meals we can go from having a

meat meals we can go from having a carbon footprint of 4.5 to just one ton

carbon footprint of 4.5 to just one ton

carbon footprint of 4.5 to just one ton of co2 so if you’re a vegetarian you

of co2 so if you’re a vegetarian you

of co2 so if you’re a vegetarian you should be feeling pretty smug right now

should be feeling pretty smug right now

should be feeling pretty smug right now what’s the deal with animals then why

what’s the deal with animals then why

what’s the deal with animals then why are they such a big producer of co2 and

are they such a big producer of co2 and

are they such a big producer of co2 and other greenhouse gases well there are

other greenhouse gases well there are

other greenhouse gases well there are many steps to the equation

many steps to the equation

many steps to the equation there’s deforestation which is a natural

there’s deforestation which is a natural

there’s deforestation which is a natural loss of carbon sinks it’s used for

loss of carbon sinks it’s used for

loss of carbon sinks it’s used for production of land so that animals can

production of land so that animals can

production of land so that animals can graze and also crop production as well

graze and also crop production as well

graze and also crop production as well and we can look at transportation we can

and we can look at transportation we can

and we can look at transportation we can look at packaging all these energy

look at packaging all these energy

look at packaging all these energy intensive sources but my favorite reason

intensive sources but my favorite reason

intensive sources but my favorite reason for why animal production is such an

for why animal production is such an

for why animal production is such an issue are frequency actuated rectal

issue are frequency actuated rectal

issue are frequency actuated rectal tremors farts for short ruminant animals

tremors farts for short ruminant animals

tremors farts for short ruminant animals like cows and sheep produce methane

like cows and sheep produce methane

like cows and sheep produce methane another king greenhouse gas even more

another king greenhouse gas even more

another king greenhouse gas even more powerful than co2 and they produce this

powerful than co2 and they produce this

powerful than co2 and they produce this from their burps their farts and their

from their burps their farts and their

from their burps their farts and their poop and the more we stuff them with

poop and the more we stuff them with

poop and the more we stuff them with unnatural feed the more they burp fart

unnatural feed the more they burp fart

unnatural feed the more they burp fart and poop continuing this vicious cycle

and poop continuing this vicious cycle

and poop continuing this vicious cycle of increased emissions ultimately

of increased emissions ultimately

of increased emissions ultimately contributing to climate change Professor

contributing to climate change Professor

contributing to climate change Professor Tim Benton from the University of Leeds

Tim Benton from the University of Leeds

Tim Benton from the University of Leeds went so far as to say the biggest

went so far as to say the biggest

went so far as to say the biggest intervention people could make towards

intervention people could make towards

intervention people could make towards reducing their carbon footprints would

reducing their carbon footprints would

reducing their carbon footprints would not be to abandon cars but to eat

not be to abandon cars but to eat

not be to abandon cars but to eat significantly less red meat but what if

significantly less red meat but what if

significantly less red meat but what if you’re like me and you just love meat

you’re like me and you just love meat

you’re like me and you just love meat what can we do to reduce our carbon

what can we do to reduce our carbon

what can we do to reduce our carbon footprint but not give up the luxury of

footprint but not give up the luxury of

footprint but not give up the luxury of enjoying meat from time to time well in

enjoying meat from time to time well in

enjoying meat from time to time well in my project I decided to reduce or

my project I decided to reduce or

my project I decided to reduce or eliminate the biggest offender beef even

eliminate the biggest offender beef even

eliminate the biggest offender beef even though beef wasn’t really popular at

though beef wasn’t really popular at

though beef wasn’t really popular at school it only made up about 17% of the

school it only made up about 17% of the

school it only made up about 17% of the choices that we had beef was responsible

choices that we had beef was responsible

choices that we had beef was responsible for 33% of the entire schools emissions

for 33% of the entire schools emissions

for 33% of the entire schools emissions from our lunches so if I take out beef

from our lunches so if I take out beef

from our lunches so if I take out beef from our cafeteria we will reduce our

from our cafeteria we will reduce our

from our cafeteria we will reduce our carbon footprint from 4.5 to just 3 tons

carbon footprint from 4.5 to just 3 tons

carbon footprint from 4.5 to just 3 tons of co2 in that month so those are my

of co2 in that month so those are my

of co2 in that month so those are my results I handed in my paper my teacher

results I handed in my paper my teacher

results I handed in my paper my teacher was happy I was happy and that’s where

was happy I was happy and that’s where

was happy I was happy and that’s where it ended until the cafeteria manager

it ended until the cafeteria manager

it ended until the cafeteria manager contacted me and asked me for my data

contacted me and asked me for my data

contacted me and asked me for my data and that’s when it dawned on me how

and that’s when it dawned on me how

and that’s when it dawned on me how stupid was I to claim that I wanted to

stupid was I to claim that I wanted to

stupid was I to claim that I wanted to find the practical value in these

find the practical value in these

find the practical value in these results when I didn’t even make my

results when I didn’t even make my

results when I didn’t even make my findings accessible to the general

findings accessible to the general

findings accessible to the general public

public

public and that’s why I’m here because what I

and that’s why I’m here because what I

and that’s why I’m here because what I just said today doesn’t apply to the

just said today doesn’t apply to the

just said today doesn’t apply to the people that go to our cafeteria the

people that go to our cafeteria the

people that go to our cafeteria the parents teachers students and staff

parents teachers students and staff

parents teachers students and staff because what I just told you today

because what I just told you today

because what I just told you today applies to all of us and the person who

applies to all of us and the person who

applies to all of us and the person who needs to hear this is the cafeteria

needs to hear this is the cafeteria

needs to hear this is the cafeteria manager herself which is why we would

manager herself which is why we would

manager herself which is why we would like to invite her to this stage today

so this is visca and she’s the cafeteria

so this is visca and she’s the cafeteria manager at our school

manager at our school

manager at our school now Ted’s motto is ideas worth spreading

now Ted’s motto is ideas worth spreading

now Ted’s motto is ideas worth spreading I’ve shared my ideas but I want you to

I’ve shared my ideas but I want you to

I’ve shared my ideas but I want you to share yours so during the intermission

share yours so during the intermission

share yours so during the intermission you will have the ability to choose

you will have the ability to choose

you will have the ability to choose which option you think is best for our

which option you think is best for our

which option you think is best for our school and and the question is what

school and and the question is what

school and and the question is what should our school to do so the option is

should our school to do so the option is

should our school to do so the option is nothing so let’s do nothing

nothing so let’s do nothing

nothing so let’s do nothing so let’s go on it’s coming us talk never

so let’s go on it’s coming us talk never

so let’s go on it’s coming us talk never happened or option V we take the radical

happened or option V we take the radical

happened or option V we take the radical choice this car creates delicious

choice this car creates delicious

choice this car creates delicious vegetarian meals and meat is forever

vegetarian meals and meat is forever

vegetarian meals and meat is forever banned from our cafeteria our option C

banned from our cafeteria our option C

banned from our cafeteria our option C so we decrease the most I mean and women

so we decrease the most I mean and women

so we decrease the most I mean and women tonight cost lift meat and in other

tonight cost lift meat and in other

tonight cost lift meat and in other words I bend the beef or D we have

words I bend the beef or D we have

words I bend the beef or D we have meatless Monday’s or e we have the same

meatless Monday’s or e we have the same

meatless Monday’s or e we have the same options as before but I create the

options as before but I create the

options as before but I create the science which will inform you about the

science which will inform you about the

science which will inform you about the effect of your lunch on the environment

effect of your lunch on the environment

effect of your lunch on the environment or option F give us your perhaps better

or option F give us your perhaps better

or option F give us your perhaps better idea now I know you can’t change what

idea now I know you can’t change what

idea now I know you can’t change what you had for lunch yesterday but what

you had for lunch yesterday but what

you had for lunch yesterday but what will you have for lunch tomorrow thank

will you have for lunch tomorrow thank

will you have for lunch tomorrow thank you

you

you [Applause]

”

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