Hi Sonja, colleagues First of all, congrats on the move to American! I didn't know you were teaching there. Such a great group of scholars to work with!
Anyhow, on to your question - I have done research on the lower nodes of the commodity chain (e.g. on leather and footwear) rather than on meat production. However, from my understanding of the process, I am not sure we can say that meat consumption is encouraged. I came across an article by Alfredsson that tries to model what would happen to climate change if everyone were to consume "green". I would assume from the ecological footprint literature that meat consumption is seen as non-green. Thus, maybe this article will be useful to your student. “Green” consumption—no solution for climate change, Energy, Volume 29, Issue 4, March 2004, Pages 513-524 Best wishes, Raul -----Original Message----- > Date: Thu Jan 31 09:50:22 PST 2008 > From: "Sonja Walti" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Meat, policies, and climate change > To: [email protected] > > Dear GEP-ED colleagues, > > I'm teaching a graduate course on the policy process and have students > write papers on particular issues in select countries including the US, > one of which is climate change. After reading Mark Bittman's NYT article > on "Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler" this weekend, a student is interested in > writing on meat consumption and climate change, a topic with which I'm not > very familiar. > I took a look at the GEP archives and came across a recent related thread > about the link between food, namely eating vegan, and climate change. > However, the references mainly pertain to the 'consumption-->climate > change' link. As this is a policy process course, I would like the > students to focus on the policy side of things. So my student's question > will be something like "What are the policies encouraging meat > consumption? And why are those in place?" or "Why does climate change > policy in the US (and elsewhere) focus more on energy and transportation > than on food? I.e. why is there no policy to curb GHG in the food sector?" > It might also be interesting for her to take a look at a country that does > have such a policy. > > I would appreciate hints (substantive ideas or references) to send her off > in a productive direction. > > Many thanks! > Sonja Walti > > Assistant Professor > Department of Public Administration and Policy > School of Public Affairs > American University, Washington DC -- --------------------------------------------- Raul Pacheco-Vega Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability The University of British Columbia 413.26-2202 Main Mall Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6T 1Z4 Offsetters, in a pioneering move, has become an affiliate of WESTJET to make your air travel climate neutral. Just book your travel online, using the link to WestJet at www.offsetters.ca and we will invest in climate friendly projects to offset the GHG emissions from your flights at no extra cost to you. PASS IT ON! http://www.offsetters.ca/ ----------------------------------------------
