Climavores: Why eating for climate is so complicated

06/21/22 • 28 min

1 Listener

Searing heat waves, massive forest fires, rising sea levels – the effects of climate change are all around us. But the role our food system plays in fueling the problem? That’s less clear to most of us.

We know our food doesn't magically appear on grocery store shelves. Somebody's growing it. But that process of feeding the planet generates a third of all greenhouse gasses. And agriculture alone emits a quarter of all greenhouse gasses. Pesticides, fertilizers, burping and farting cows, cutting down trees to plant crops – it all wreaks havoc on our climate. But we all have to eat...so, what’s the solution?

In this premiere episode, co-hosts Tamar Haspel (To Boldly Grow, The Washington Post), and Michael Grunwald (The Swamp, Canary Media) talk about what led them to start thinking about food in the context of climate change and what it means to be a “climavore.” They also tackle the question, “What should people eat to be responsible humans on a warming planet?”

Turns out, it’s complicated.

We want your question for future episodes! Leave a message for Mike and Tamar on the Climavores hotline at (508) 377-3449. Or email us at [email protected]. We might feature your question in a future episode.

Climavores is a production of Post Script Media.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turns out, it’s complicated.

Climavores is a production of Post Script Media.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

Climavores: Confused about how to eat for the planet? Give us a call.

Every day, we make a zillion decisions about food. We’re bombarded with marketing and media -- and nobody seems to agree about what to eat, where to get it, and how to prepare it.

Climate change is making all of this even harder. We all know food is a big deal for the planet. But it’s not always obvious what we should eat if we want to make things better.

Tamar Haspel and Mike Grunwald are here to help.

Tamar and Mike aren't going to make you feel bad about your lunch. Instead, they're cutting through hype and ideology to explore the complicated, confusing, and surprising relationship between food and the environment.

And they're answering your questions! Ask them anything about organic food, local food, meat, fake meat – anything you can throw at them.

We’re at 508-377-3449. Or drop us an email at [email protected].

Full episodes drop on June 21. Give us a call, subscribe to the show, and prepare to dig in.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Climavores: Bursting the ‘eat local’ bubble

The eat local movement is huge. Bumper stickers in liberal towns across the U.S. tell us to “Eat local” or ask “Who’s your farmer?” But eating local food may be wildly overrated when it comes to climate change.

When we look at how foods are produced, transportation accounts for less than 10% of carbon emissions. So should we abandon farmers’ markets for big grocery store chains?

In this episode, Mike and Tamar break down the real carbon footprint of local food and ask whether the value of supporting local, small-scale farmers outweighs the climate benefit of not buying local (spoiler alert: Tamar says yes. Mike says no). They also dive into the history of the local food movement and explore why it’s gained such traction.

Have a question about food and climate change for Mike and Tamar? Leave a message on the Climavores hotline at (508) 377-3449. Or email us at [email protected]. We might feature your question on a future episode.

Climavores is a production of Post Script Media.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices