Short Exchange on Global Warming

Q: Do you factor global warming into your philosophy and goals? For example, in your blog you caution that if a person gives up cow meat, they may be more likely to eat more chickens, which will cause a greater number of animals to suffer and die*. However, raising and slaughtering cows causes a lot more greenhouse gases than raising and slaughtering chickens.

*It takes more than 200 intensively raised birds -- not counting those that suffer to death before slaughter -- to provide the same number of meals as one steer.

A: The global warming consequences of a single person eating a small portion of a steer is indistinguishable from zero. But eating chickens causes a very significant amount of real suffering to many, many individuals.

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