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Almost three-quarters of scientists worldwide either eat a predominantly meat-free diet or are willing to switch to a vegan or vegetarian diet out of consideration for the climate, a new survey shows.
Almost all scientists worldwide (96 percent) believe that climate change is man-made. 83 percent of them are “quite” or “very” concerned about the crisis. This is the result of a large-scale survey led by the University of Amsterdam.
The researchers surveyed 9,220 academics from 115 countries, from different disciplines and from all career levels. Concern about the climate crisis has led the majority of them to change their lifestyle and take action on the climate crisis, and many are willing to continue doing so in the future.
The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that 39 percent of scientists eat a predominantly plant-based diet, while another 32 percent said they avoid meat, highlighting how concerned academics are about the impact of livestock farming on the planet.
Livestock farming is responsible for up to 20 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, ten times more than aviation. The entire food system is responsible for a third of emissions, 60 percent of which come from meat production.
Scientists and climate experts praise vegan diets as a highly effective way to reduce consumption-related emissions. One study found that a vegan diet reduces emissions, water pollution and land use by 75%. Another study concludes that even replacing 50% of meat consumption with plant-based alternatives has the potential to double the climate benefits and stop deforestation.
“Climate change is an existential threat to humanity,” said study leader Fabian Dablander. “To ensure a future worth living, each of us must ask ourselves: How can I best contribute to this at this crucial moment in human history?”
Scientists: Personal behavior – not technology – will solve climate change
Most of the scientists surveyed (84%) believe that tackling the climate crisis will require significant changes in personal behavior and lifestyle, but only a quarter (27%) believe that technological advances will “largely solve climate change” – in fact, 44% disagree.
In addition to eating more plant-based foods and reducing meat consumption, scientists have made many other changes to significantly slow global warming. These include reducing car use (a change made by 69% of scientists), flying less (51%), increasing energy efficiency at home or switching to renewable energy (46%), and having fewer children (36%).
Among scientists who have not made these changes, there was a broad willingness to do so, particularly with regard to the use of green energy (52%), avoiding air travel (34%) and reducing car use (25%).
The survey also found that 68 percent of academics feel a personal responsibility to help curb climate change, and 51 percent believe scientists should do more to advocate for the interests of the public.
Many are already taking action by speaking more about climate change (78%), donating to climate change organizations (31%) and participating in legal protests (23%). However, they are divided on whether participating in legal protests weakens the credibility of scientists – while 35% do not believe this, 42% are not sure.
What scientists need to become climate protectors
The researchers examined what motivated scientists to advocate for climate action and participate in climate protests and found that they faced several intellectual and practical obstacles.
Intellectual hurdles include a lack of knowledge or concern about climate change, doubts about the effectiveness of activism, and the belief that it is not the job of scientists to protest. Ideological and strategic disagreements with activists were other key issues.
In terms of practical obstacles, scholars fear loss of credibility, perception of unsuitability of personality and the impact of protesting. They also cited the lack of an activist in their inner circle and lack of advocacy skills as factors that prevent them from participating in such activities.
To engage, scientists need to overcome intellectual barriers, the study says. But to actually engage, institutional reforms are recommended – such as giving scientists more time, funding and support to engage in society, and normalizing or rewarding climate action. This could also help reduce scientists’ carbon footprint if norms for travel and event organizations are changed.
Most survey respondents (91%) agreed that fundamental changes in the world’s social, political and economic systems are needed to truly tackle climate change.
“Governments and companies continue to make empty promises, downplaying the level of change needed to prevent climate change,” says Adam Aron, one of the study’s co-authors.
“This study makes it clear that scientists across all disciplines are very concerned and are calling for this fundamental change. I hope it will help wake people up and get involved – and more and more scientists are doing that.”
The study comes just months after a survey of 380 climate scientists – all members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – found that only 6 percent believe we will meet our 1.5 degree target. The majority of experts believe we will exceed the post-industrial temperature of 4 degrees Celsius by 2100.
