A Reality Check: Green Energy, Alcohol, Vegetarianism

Jun 25, 2022
All choices have consequences for our contact with the rest of the natural world because we are consumers of food, resources and energy.
 

ALL the choices that we make, be it materialism or consumerism - has an impact.

What we eat, how much we travel, how many children we have, what we buy, and so on and so forth. All these are personal choices, but they have consequences for our contact with the rest of the natural world because we are consumers of food, resources and energy.

Behind all the puffery around going vegan and adopting green energy are facts that need to be considered.

Green Energy: 4 facts that will give you a reality check

Renewable and green energy are all the rage. This article presents us with a reality check in the midst of all the hype. And looks at four facts to consider.
  • Any type of energy comes with some cost to the environment.
  • There will be supply constraints with respect to Lithium.
  • Coal energy won’t be phased out anytime soon.
  • The EV supply chain is hardly a paradigm of ESG considerations.

6 facts on Investing and Vegetarianism

Similar to Big Pharma, Big Agriculture, and Big Oil, Big Food is characterized by the domination of a major market by just a few large companies. It is the multinational food and beverage industry with huge and concentrated power. A case is made on how the investment community can encourage Big Food to step up its game and become more healthy and sustainable.
A green revolution is transforming our energy supply and waste management systems. A similar revolution needs to take place in global food production and in our diets.
  • The meat industry has a terrible carbon footprint.
  • Our diets are addictive.
  • In pursuant of profits, the environmental and social damage is real.
  • Consumers and Investors can make a difference.

The environmental impact of alcohol production

However, harmful use of alcohol has health and socioeconomic consequences. Production of alcohol also has environmental repercussions.

Based on assessments, the biggest environmental, social, or governance (ESG) risk for alcohol stems from water use. Indeed, beer contains roughly 95% water while liquors tend to contain roughly 40%-60% water.

But water isn’t just an ingredient. It’s critical to production, including cleaning, cooling, and packaging. And water is even more important given its direct impact on product quality and experience, as well as the growing of ingredients like barley, corn, and other crops.

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