The #Hungergeddon Diet: How Wealth, Food Choices, and Climate Change Are on a Collision Course

The current trajectory of human behavior is leading us toward climate change. This has been a topic of debate for decades, but the majority of experts now agree: humans are the primary cause. Climate change has far-reaching consequences, impacting food production and availability.  

While the role of fossil fuels and technology in climate change is widely discussed, I want to focus on another crucial aspect: food. As the global population continues to grow and traditional energy sources dwindle, we're facing a potential "oil" crisis in the coming decades. However, an even more pressing concern looms on the horizon: a global food crisis.

We're already experiencing hunger and food insecurity in many parts of the world, but this is largely due to unequal distribution rather than an absolute lack of resources. However, with current agricultural practices and population growth projections, we could face a severe food shortage by 2040, when the population is estimated to reach 8 to 10 billion people.

Some might argue that as long as they belong to the wealthy elite, they'll be insulated from the effects of this crisis. They can afford to pay exorbitant prices for food, even if it means others go hungry. But this ignores the interconnectedness of our world. Widespread hunger leads to desperation, conflict, violence, disease, and mass migration, ultimately impacting everyone, even the privileged few.

This brings me to the central point: wealth and climate change are intertwined in a dangerous way. As societies become wealthier, their food preferences shift toward more resource-intensive options. For example, as incomes rise in developing countries, people tend to consume more beef, which requires significantly more land, water, and feed than pork or chicken.

According to an article in Smithsonian Magazine, producing a kilogram of beef requires ten times more resources than producing a kilogram of pork or chicken. In general, animal-based protein sources are far more resource-intensive than plant-based ones.  

Therefore, the wealthier we become, the more unsustainable our food choices become, pushing us closer to what I call "#Hungergeddon." To mitigate this impending crisis, it's essential that we, as global citizens, shift our diets away from resource-intensive foods like beef and toward more sustainable options like poultry, plant-based proteins, and locally sourced produce.

The choices we make today will determine the future of food security and the well-being of our planet. It's time to embrace a more conscious and sustainable approach to eating, not just for our own health, but for the survival of generations to come.