COP27: Is Climate anxiety a good thing?

As Global leaders meet for another UN climate summit – COP27, the reality of climate change for many people can be overwhelming. BBC NEWS

Especially when marketeers use climate anxiety to sell us products that are not good for us or the planet.

Record-breaking heatwaves, devastating floods in Australia and Pakistan, drought in East Africa and floods and bush fires in the USA – and that is just this year.

It is no surprise that climate anxiety is rising, particularly among young people, who have mostly only known a world affected by climate change.

But experts and activists believe that these fears can be good news for the planet.

What does this mean for food? Unfortunately climate anxiety, is being used by big business as a marketing tool to promote half truths and use consumer’s lack of knowledge to make many people buy the wrong, and unhealthy, foods.

A good example is becoming a vegan in the belief that by cutting out meat, less calories will be fed to animals and less greenhouse gasses produced. Many of these people end up buying expensive, highly processed, unhealthy, vegan ready meals when they could be buying sustainable pasture fed meat with healthy local seasonal veg.

These marketeers also fund and promote biased research and articles to promote veganism. They will even sponsor or help promote crazy activists.

Yes it is true that if we stopped intensive meat production less green house gasses will be produced and there would be more calories to feed humans.

It is NOT true to give up meat altogether, when 30% of the world’s agricultural land is pasture, and cannot grow crops, and that mixed farms with animals is the best way to regenerate our soils. Previous blog with videos here.

If we want to feed the world and save the planet, and money, we must simply, source and eat simple local foods, and if possible grow your own and Crop for the Shop. This reduces food miles, encourages more local food production and increases our food security and food knowledge as we reconnect with local producers.

Please use our Local Food Map to find your local food outlets and look out for the carrot flag for those who have opted in to Crop for the Shop meaning they will ‘pay’ you (perhaps in beer or a voucher) for what you have grown.

And please tell your friends, or perhaps even join our foodie schools program to help the next generation discover and be enthused by real local food. More with videos here