Some people can figure out the externalities and adjust behavior. Others may require market signals but they will be difficult to incorporate.
Without reading through this whole thread, I will state my simple opinion. The day that humans only grow molars, is the day we stop eating meat. I try to cut down on meat consumption, occasionally eating a non-meat diet for a day or two. However, I will never completely cut out a food source that my body is designed to consume.
You are designed to be an omnivore. You can eat anything. It's your choice. Read "The Omnivores Dilemma"
Meatless school menu sparks political row in France Food represents roughly a quarter of France’s carbon footprint and proposals are being developed by the government to encourage the French both to eat more local produce and to consume less meat, but of higher quality. The French senate last year recommended a more vegetable-based diet, but mainly to counter the unhealthy impact of fast food and takeaways. There have also been proposals to reward low-emission meat producers. But resistance to any proposals to reduce meat consumption will be fierce from France’s powerful farming lobby. The Lyon decision was met with protest in the form of tractors, cows and goats paraded in front of the city hall. Banners proclaimed: “Meat from our fields = a healthy child” and “Stopping meat is a guarantee of weakness against future viruses”.
just watched a nova episode about CRISPR and one of the examples they discussed was editing the dna of cattle to make more males since males produce more beef on the same amount of feed. Supposed to reduce the footprint of the cattle industry slightly. Can't imagine that's worth more than 10%, I'm assuming single digit gains.
Carbon footprint study reveals 1 'recommended' diet is bad for Earth By and large, plant-based diets are much better for the environment than animal-based ones. For example, CarbonBrief analyzed data comparing plant-based "Impossible" meat and "Beyond Burgers" to beef burgers. The carbon footprint for the plant-based burgers was 20 times smaller than the beef burgers. Recently, researchers have suggested adapting the Mediterranean diet — a favorite for its health benefits — to be more "green" by cutting out red meat and increasing plant intake. This study dives into this question, finding what's best for the environment doesn't always align with what governments say is best as a diet.