Animals, Energy, Land

Abstract

This chapter introduces the central themes, and outlines the central argument, of the book. Three dominant environmental threats are identified: climate change, mass extinction, and pestilence. The warming of the planet is accelerating. At the same time, species are becoming extinct at a startling rate. Newly emerging infectious diseases—COVID-19 being the latest off the production line—are becoming more pronounced and problematic. It is argued that our habit of eating animals—and the massive reallocation of biomass that it involves—lies at the heart of all of all three problems, and if we abandon this habit, we can make substantial progress in tackling them. This proposal should be taken seriously on the grounds that it is easier to implement, more effective once implemented, and ultimately more palatable than other options.