
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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