Fat is (apparently) a climate change issue

So says chairman of the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission, Sir Jonathan Porritt. He argues that overweight people are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions by eating large quantities of methane-producing protein-rich food, such as beef and lamb. He goes on to say that obese people are more likely to travel by car than on foot or by bike, which also increases carbon emissions. His aim is to encourage the UK government to tackle carbon emissions and obesity together by advising people to eat less meat and take more exercise etc.

Are his comments helpful in tackling climate change? What about all the skinny people who regularly eat large quantities of gas-producing cow and sheep? And what kind of message does this send to those who have a tricky relationship with food; those who comfort-eat to block out emotional problems for example. If we are going to engage more people in the climate change debate, pointing the finger of blame isn’t the way forward.

Founder of Friends of the Earth and a leading light in the Green Party in the 70s and early 80s - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathon_Porritt - Porritt is an exceptionally bright man, has a good sense of humour, can be utterly charming but he doesn’t suffer fools gladly nor mince his words. When working as a fundraiser at his sustainable development charity, Forum for the Future, in Cheltenham, UK, he would call from South Africa and dictate where to put the commas in something I had written. Mind you, he was once a teacher…

There is no doubt that Porritt has played a key role in getting environmental and sustainability issues higher up the agenda in the UK, but I think his recent comments are a load of hot air. What was he saying about emissions?