University bans burgers to help save the planet
Beef burgers have been banned by a university as part of efforts to tackle the climate emergency.
Goldsmiths, University of London said it is to remove all beef products from sale from next month as the institution attempts to become carbon neutral by 2025.
Students will also face a 10p levy on bottles of water and single-use plastic cups when the academic year starts to discourage use of the products.
The college’s new Warden, Professor Frances Corner, said staff and students “care passionately about the future of our environment” and that “declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words”.
But the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) told PA the move was “an overly simplistic approach” and said there was a “lack of understanding or recognition between British beef and beef produced elsewhere”.
Goldsmiths Students’ Union has backed the ban with president Joe Leam saying that the university has a “huge carbon footprint” and that the promise to eradicate this in the next few years is needed.
As well as the beef ban and 10p levy on single-use water bottles and plastic cups, there are plans to install more solar panels across the college’s New Cross campus in south-east London and switch to a 100% clean energy supplier as soon as possible.
Officials said Goldsmiths will also continue to invest in its allotment area and identify other places where planting could help to absorb carbon dioxide, and will review how all students can access modules which cover climate change and the role of both individuals and organisations in reducing carbon emissions.
Prof Corner said: “The growing global call for organisations to take seriously their responsibilities for halting climate change is impossible to ignore.
“Though I have only just arrived at Goldsmiths, it is immediately obvious that our staff and students care passionately about the future of our environment and that they are determined to help deliver the step change we need to cut our carbon footprint drastically and as quickly as possible.
“Declaring a climate emergency cannot be empty words. I truly believe we face a defining moment in global history and Goldsmiths now stands shoulder to shoulder with other organisations willing to call the alarm and take urgent action to cut carbon use.”
Al Gore: 2006 Global Warming ‘Point of No Return’ Claim Was ‘Accurate’
Former Vice President Al Gore discussed his 2006 warning that unless the nations took “drastic measures, the world would reach a point of no return within 10 years” when it comes to climate change and global warming.
Gore said his “point of no return claim” was, unfortunately, “accurate,” but celebrated that the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have made climate a top priority.
“You said back in 2006 the world would reach the point of no return if we didn’t reduce greenhouse gases in 2016. Is it already too late?” asked ABC News’ Jonathan Karl in an interview which aired Sunday on “This Week.”
“[S]ome changes, unfortunately, have already been locked in place,” Gore replied. “Sea level increases are going to continue to matter what we do now. But, we can prevent much larger sea level increases. Much more rapid increases in temperature. The heatwave was in Europe. Now it’s in the Arctic. We’re seeing huge melting of the ice there. So, the warnings of the scientists 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, unfortunately, were accurate. Here’s the good news, Jonathan, in the Democratic contest for the presidential nominations this year, virtually all of the candidates agree this is either the top issue or one of top two issues.”