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This article was downloaded by: [87.188.145.2] On: 31 August 2015, At: 10:06 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/venv20 The Challenges of Changing Dietary Behavior Toward More Sustainable Consumption a b Tim O'Riordan & Susanne Stoll-Kleemann a University of East Anglia in Norwich, England b University of Greifswald, Germany Published online: 31 Aug 2015. Click for updates To cite this article: Tim O'Riordan & Susanne Stoll-Kleemann (2015) The Challenges of Changing Dietary Behavior Toward More Sustainable Consumption, Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 57:5, 4-13, DOI: 10.1080/00139157.2015.1069093 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00139157.2015.1069093 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Versions of published Taylor & Francis and Routledge Open articles and Taylor & Francis and Routledge Open Select articles posted to institutional or subject repositories or any other third-party website are without warranty from Taylor & Francis of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Any opinions and views expressed in this article are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor & Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions It is essential that you check the license status of any given Open and Open Select article to confirm conditions of access and use.
by Tim O’Riordan and Susanne Stoll-Kleemann Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 View of cattle being fed for The Challenges of factory farming. Changing Dietary Behavior Toward More Sustainable Consumption S hifting socially accustomed and personally habitual behavior is a tough task, and achieving dietary change away from livestock-based foods in developed, emerging, and developing economies offers particular challenges. This article seeks to investigate the more personal behavioral factors that inhibit dietary change, bearing in mind the reinforcing and 4 EnvironmEnt www.EnvironmEntmagazinE.org voLUmE 57 nUmBEr 5
offers ways to embark on fresh social On Diet, Lazy Thinking, learning through new networks of col- and Habit lective engagement, and a willingness to embrace new ethical frameworks. Aspects of personal behavior change Such an approach requires innovative are examined first to illustrate that shift- approaches to knowledge brokering by ing individual behavior through vol- governments and by business and com- untary encouragement does not work.1 munity organizations, as well as to more This is followed by a survey of the more open discussion of ethical dilemmas. convoluted combinations of collective Finally, this article examines the role behavior shifts in the context of policy, of sustainability science in activating economics, social awareness, learning these two forces for enabling consen- tactics, and global food systems. sual dietary change. This form of science combines established forms of scientific Fast Thinking in a evidence gathering and analysis, with Personal Context coordination and engagement from bus- iness, government, civil society, and The distinguished Nobel Econom- community organizations, to form new ics Laureate Daniel Kahneman is well perspectives and transformational energy known for his distinction between Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 across all involved. Sustainability science spontaneously automatic “system 1” or is still fledgling and shadowy. It is by no “fast thinking” and more carefully de- means either understood or embraced by liberative “system 2” or “slow thinking” academia or its other sector bedfellows. (see Boxes 1 and 2).2 The two styles are Seeking to alter dietary behavior could be very connected and can readily morph one of the early test cases for the success- into each other. Nevertheless, there ful introduction of sustainability science are distinctions between the two ways onto the world stage. of reasoning that are relevant for our Box 1: Fast Thinking and Habitual Behavior iStock/David Hughes The fast thinker generates impressions, feelings, and inclinations that shape the more rational variants of beliefs, attitudes, and intentions.2 (pp. 21, 22, 105) Fast thinking enables problems to be interpreted narrowly, often with immediacy, and segmentally. Fast thinking also responds more strongly to losses than to gains, favors low probabilities especially of risks, neglects ambiguity and sup- presses doubts, seeks to confirm through readily accessible beliefs, responds to available evidence so tends to ignore absent evidence, and generates patterns of ideas from a historical “bank” of experiences and past judgments that seem interacting systemic impediments in- intuitively “right.” Kahneman points out that fast thinking “links a sense of cog- troduced in the first article in this se- nitive ease to illusions of truth, pleasant feelings, and reduced vigilance.”2 (p. 105) ries, “The Sustainability Challenges of One barrier at the individual level to progressive diet switching is the influ- Our Meat and Dairy Diets.” This article ence of habitual behavior. Here we discover the essence of fast thinking. Habits examines the patterns of thinking that tend to be repetitive, routine, reliable, reinforcing, and rewarding. Habits are discourage the search for relevant infor- often triggered by cues or stimuli (hunger or social routine in the dietary case) mation and inhibit exposure to inner- and are characterized by intrinsic, intuitive actions that are comfortable because most ethical norms, including “existing they are familiar and patterned. Habits are also efficient as they do not require habituation” supported by processes of attention to detail or to new information (which often can safely be ignored). dissonance avoidance, and “lazy” belief Indeed it is precisely because habitual behaviors “fit” into personality, to experi- reinforcement. ence, to custom, to social networks, and to culture, that they are so unexamined. This article also seeks to explore the As a consequence, habitual behavior does not require constant refreshment of external collective aspects of behavior the weighing of gains and losses, nor does it make any demands on uncom- change, especially the degree of pre- fortable, dissonance-exposing self-searching of possible losses against estab- paredness to engage with credibly of- lished gains. fered but challenging knowledge. This SEPtEmBEr/oCtoBEr 2015 www.EnvironmEntmagazinE.org EnvironmEnt 5
Most people view eating animals as a cultural norm, rather than a choice. set of social and psychological defense mechanisms hides the contradictions iStock/adlifemarketing between values and behaviors, allowing exponents to make exceptions to what would normally be considered unethi- cal. This view is encapsulated by Lough- Consumption of meat is a learned habit. nan et al.3 (p. 107): Eating animals can also be viewed appraisal of possible shifts in personal highlights the moral dilemma involved as an extended case study on hu- dietary behavior. in eating animals, a dilemma that all man morality. By examining a Fast thinking helps the portrayal of people eventually have to resolve if di- single moral behavior, we can il- meat and dairy products for a major- etary change is to take place. Garnett luminate how emotions (pleasure, Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 ity in developed countries as “healthy,” et al.1 find that meat eating is flattening disgust, guilt), cognitions (catego- affordable, unconnected to negative out except in East Asia. The drivers for rization, attribution, justification), distant (in time, space, and emotion) reducing meat consumption are rising and personality characteristics (values, beliefs, identities) combine outcomes, and enjoyable.2 (p. 82) Food bus- cost, health concerns, and animal wel- when people face everyday moral inesses encourage such thinking in the fare considerations. Environmental as- problems. In doing so, researchers ways in which they market, place prod- pects receive less attention because they have shown how emotion regula- ucts on shelves, advertise, and seduc- are afforded less exposure.2 tion, mind perception, and moral tively manage prices. Most people view eating animals as a judgment are intimately connected. Most people eat meat yet care about cultural norm, rather than a choice. In animals. Research has begun to examine meat-eating cultures around the world, Fast thinking buttresses the systemic the psychological processes that allow people typically don’t think about why forces that encourage the meat eater not people to negotiate this “meat paradox.”3 they find eating dogs disgusting and to delve deeply into more inner beliefs Many engage in a diet that requires eating cows appetizing or vice versa, and into other social cues over personal animals to be killed and to suffer. This or why they eat any animals at all. A and collective morality. Such patterns are strengthened by habit. Both are re- flections of the policy circumstances in which livestock products are translated, Box 2: Slow Thinking in a Learning Social Context interpreted, and unexamined. The significance of this combination In the Kahneman perspective, slow thinking rests on conscious awareness, of perspective lies in the activation of acuity, criticality, and, above all, active learning engagement. It requires effort, norms and the scope for examining per- attention, analysis, and considered judgement.2 Kahneman summarizes the at- sonal ethics. Cognitive dissonance pro- tributes of the slow thinkers: “They are more alert, more intellectually active, cesses may subdue the scope for deeply less willing to be satisfied with superficially attractive answers, more scepti- addressing ethical positioning, even if cal about their intentions.”2 (p. 46) Overall, the slow thinkers are more likely to such perspectives come from external be both analytically reflective and rationally engaged. They search memory, valued sources (such as science or the- they deliberately compute seemingly contradictory argument, they compare ology or role models). But such mod- evidence along chosen lines of assessment, and they plan their behavior to suit els have their limitations. Shove4 (p. 1278) their intentions and ethical norms. stresses that the embedding context also A start to analyzing relevant cognitive patterns for any diet changing assess- has to shift; it is almost impossible to alter ment is some appropriate mix of fast and slow thinking. The intuitive elements personal behavior if the external contra- of fast thinking shape the search processes of the slower and more purposeful dictory cues do not change, and indeed evidence seeker and assessor characteristics. Changing habitual behavior re- may be reinforced: quires shifts in ingrained outlooks, a willingness to stand apart from self-judged peer group acceptance, and being supported by coordinated incentives and rel- Relevant societal innovation is evant information. that in which contemporary rules of the game are eroded; in which 6 Environment www.environmentmagazine.org VOLUME 57 NUMBER 5
Susanne Stoll-Kleemann the status quo is called into ques- tion and in which more sustainable regimes of technologies, routines, forms of know-how, conventions, markets and expectations take hold across all domains of daily life. By activating a mix of personal and socially encouraged norms, it is possible to begin to make a link between the ac- tual and acquired knowledge basis of any framing of action (awareness). This in turn depends on the manner in which critically alerting knowledge is offered, repeated, clearly organized, credible in both content and sourcing, and devoid of confusion and contradiction. Equally important are the personal cognitive processes of organizing all of this infor- Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 mation into a coherent package. Adopting Non-Livestock Diets: The German Example In our companion article we sum- marized the underlying motivations for shifting to vegetarianism and veganism. The most important driver is concern over animal welfare, followed by per- sonal health. Environmental, religious, and social reasons are becoming more important but do not match other influ- ences such as cost, health, and animal welfare.3 Social justice aspects are begin- ning to carry more weight and may well rise in influence as food availability and food price leaps afflict the hungry and impoverished. Around a billion people worldwide are vegetarians or vegans. Germany cur- rently has among of the highest propor- tions of vegetarians (10%, 7.8 million) and vegans (1.1%, 900,000) in the West- ern world.8 A recent survey (“Forsa”) estimates that 42 million Germans are Sign from a vegan restaurant touting a healthy diet. part-time vegetarians (flexitarians). This means that the majority of Ger- mans (52%) consciously avoid eating “It is healthful, nutritionally ade- meat on three or more days per week.9 quate, and may provide health benefits There is a steadily expanding range Experts estimate that by in the prevention and treatment of cer- of vegetarian and vegan products in the 2020 at least one-fifth tain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian supermarkets and in the menus of res- of Germans will consume diets are appropriate for individuals taurants, organizational cafeterias, and a predominantly during all stages of the life cycle, in- college cafeterias. The American Di- vegetarian diet. cluding pregnancy, lactation, infancy, etetic Association actively recommends childhood, and adolescence, and for a permanent vegetarian or vegan diet. athletes.”10 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 www.environmentmagazine.org environment 7
This position is supported by the Establishing a fresh The food companies and the food German Official Agencies and is more moral framing might service sector already provide nonmeat understood and admitted by the whole or lower meat convenience meal alter- medical health sector. enable those switching natives. In response to persistent peti- Experts estimate that by 2020 at least away from livestock- tioning by PETA (People for the Ethi- one-fifth of Germans will consume a based diets to feel pride cal Treatment of Animals), IKEA sells predominantly vegetarian diet. The de- and personal esteem in vegan meatballs to signal a significant cisive influences here are the compelling “doing the sustainably reduction in carbon and methane emis- arguments against meat while vegetar- right thing” even when sions. A marketing director of IKEA ex- ian food is becoming increasingly avail- plains that this sends a strong signal to able, more varied, and less expensive. others around are not large target groups.13 Many prominent role models are doing the same. In Israel, change agents in civil soci- taking a lead. One is a popular 33-year- ety groups are bringing about a national old vegan chef and cookbook bestseller shift toward veganism. Some 1 million and fitness model (German with Turk- consumers, out of Israel’s population of ish roots) Attila Hildmann.11 Actors, The particular reasons why there 8 million, no longer eat meat, and 40% singers, presenters, and sportsmen are so many more vegetarians in Ger- claim that they have friends or relatives are also making their views publicly many compared with other developed who have shifted to nonmeat diets over known. The German Vegetarian Asso- countries are not well researched. The the past year. Overall, this wave of di- Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 ciation (VEBU) has launched a service whole issue is attractively promoted in etary change has increased in demand portal for community gastronomy. The the media (TV, print press, social media, for vegan dishes in restaurants by more aim is to improve and expand the veg- and movies) as a very modern and re- than one-third. Segal suggests that this etarian offerings in restaurants, cafete- sponsible lifestyle. In adventurous Ber- pattern has been encouraged by me- rias, hospitals, and schools, and above lin it is really “in” to be “veggie,” with dia celebrities, by exposés of animal all to make it more appreciated as being a vast food infrastructure responding suffering and by scandals in the food “sustainable.” In-house cookery train- to this life choice.12 There is also a cul- industry.14 ing programs are adopting vegetarian tural mood of high social responsibility. recipes adapted for use in large-scale A lot of younger Germans have learned kitchens. Together with the Compass in schools and through civil society that Group, the biggest catering company they have the power in their own ac- A New Moral Framework worldwide, VEBU has a specific policy tions to change not only their individual Establishing a fresh moral fram- of advocating meat-free and sustainable moral norms, but also those of society ing might enable those switching away food in the workplace. as a whole. from livestock-based diets to feel pride and personal esteem in “doing the sus- tainably right thing” even when others Preparing vegetarian healthy food is fun and simple. around are not doing the same. The strength of this moral framework may lead to individuals encouraging others to adopt the same moral perspective. It is likely that a deep sense of moral com- mitment may form a key component in shifting and retaining new forms of di- etary behavior. All of this is very much easier to pro- claim than to deliver. To be credible, evi- dence of the links between biodiversity losses and ecosystem disruptions needs to be set in the consequences for future generations: likely price hikes, possible socially unjust and perverse outcomes for the already poor and hungry, and such outcomes for “identifiable” biodi- iStock/skynesher versity (beloved animal and invertebrate species and plant life). Then there is the moral case for intervention. This will 8 Environment www.environmentmagazine.org VOLUME 57 NUMBER 5
require much thoughtful discussion, ambiguities that arise between sourc- This exercise will also require conso- including theologians, philosophers, ing meat consumption and shifting at- nant mainstream and social media en- politicians, and ethical investment and titudes and values. To be effective, a gagement, which also needs to be exam- trading enterprises. There is also a fas- social marketing strategy also needs to ined in preparatory research. Research cinating conversation to be instigated target the key stakeholders in the entire projects connected to sustainability sci- around “people’s social values”: the role “governance” system, such as regulatory ence offered in this article could provide of mentors, drawn from familiar com- bodies, retailers, producers, service pro- backing for this set of approaches. munities, acting as ambassadors, refer- viders, media, and others. ents, and enablers helping to meet the We offer four avenues to achieve this Progressive and requirements of “keeping at it” and pro- framework. Continuous Campaigns viding encouragement and support. Culture shifts away from meat eating Business leaders and influential role create a growing sense of “dissonance Interactive Learning models could proclaim the advantages discomfort” and alert contradictory or of lower livestock linked diets in the incomplete beliefs influenced in turn An interactive learning process light of these various “collective con- by personal histories and social con- should be conducted in schools, versations.” In response to the “nega- texts. Social marketing strategies can churches, social and mainstream me- tive” points made in the preceding, be developed to alleviate cognitive dis- dia, and where people gather to con- there should be “positive” messages sonance and reduce the consumption verse and to learn. These dialogues about dietary flexibility, animal health, Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 of factory-farmed meat in favor of or- should make use of organized informa- environmentally and socially friendly ganically produced and more environ- tion to show that the many outcomes production and marketing, choice of lo- mentally friendly livestock foods. Social associated with livestock-product-rich cal and cultural foods, personal health marketing research places greater em- diets will lead to more costly and wasted guarantees, and freedom of self-identity phasis on exploring motivations for be- food, to more socially unwanted dis- set in terms of longer life (health ben- havioral change, in particular the values tress, to a weakened planet for offspring, efits), gender (choice benefits), and and attitudes that bring about and/or and to poorer personal health—in es- youth (ecological and generational be- increase the behavioral and structural sence, to socially unwanted outcomes. quest benefits). To make these positive Box 3: Collective Behavior Change and New Habituation We are entering a world of norms and intent. This world is also infused with social relations, and the many interconnec- tions between personal acts and external drives and biases such as economic incentives and regulations, policy domains, and shifting cultural values. Andrew Darnton provides a full survey of the relevant social psychological approaches.5 He points to the connections between automacity or fast thinking habits: intent or expectation arising from any act, and conformity to emerging social referents. Ultimately, sustainability eating should become just another element of personal convention and household routine: day-to-day conformity in a “new habituation.” To get there will require some form of shakeup of preex- isting behavioral stabilities and systemic biases. This may result through emotional reaction to new information or biasing conditions, especially if such information is offered in unusual ways (such as falling into personal ill health, being exposed to scenarios of environmental castrophes over many generations, and/or impacts that go against norms of social justice). This may also be triggered by the activities of consumer and environmental organizations working to alter cultural norms. Kurt Lewin sees habit as being both resistant to change and the engine of change. If social norms shift, so do relevant external cues. If it is the “norm” to link meatless foods with regard to personal health, to community-based relations, and to next generation decency, then readjusted habits could form in the wake of the “new conformity.” Lewin showed that loyalty and conformity to social reference groups help to determine beliefs, interpretations and personal norms. If the beliefs of the reference group shifts and their behavior is opened up to refreshing reinterpretation, then “new habituations” can form and progress.6 A step in this direction is the work by Fisher et al. around the joins between information, motivation, and behavior.7 This has been applied to health-related actions such as avoidance of HIV exposure and of liver failure through excessive alcohol consumption. The critical feature here is attentiveness to learning propensity. This means targeting information to the inter- ests and existing knowledges of the participant, triggering the sense of efficacy and self-motivation, and introducing social norms in the context of the learner’s referent group values. In the context of dietary change, the school or the church or the youth center could form a valued basis for such learning dynamics. Information should be offered as loops of innovative discovery. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 www.environmentmagazine.org environment 9
Why not put exciting research area is to identify the willing in food production more generally. Gar- vegetarian foods in school first movers in livestock-based food nett et al. stress the patchy understand- businesses who are ready to change the ing of dietary behavior in developing cafeterias and again ask rules of the game. countries, the lack of consistency in the pupils or their parents to messages and the policy outcomes of argue for a meat-based Promotion of “Healthy Food” focusing on health-related prods and alternative? Towns and Streets environment-sustainability gains, the failure to move far beyond voluntarism Participants and residents can gain in regulation, and the paucity of case pride in their new “conforming” behav- work in experimental approaches to the messages stick, there will need to be ior and begin to acquire “sustainable di- “knowledge–action gap.” Above all, they supportive arrangements for business etary habits.” We address this in our new bemoan the absence of integrated ap- backing, for the breakup of the global habituation section (Box 3): There is a proaches to research, experimentation, and national lobbies, and for the cham- lot of supportive literature over com- and learning.1 (pp. 75–85) pioning of new social cultures of lower munity-based engagement and social An unexamined moral dilemma livestock diets. In addition, there should learning, which we cover in our review takes up the invisible baton conducting be research, supported by business and of community-based behavior change much of this from this article. This is to by consumer organizations, to explore in Germany and elsewhere. apply the same processes of “sustain- how fresh approaches to “nudging” able diet habituation” to those releasing Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 might be pursued. For example, why not themselves from poverty and underem- offer vegetarian (and vegan) foods in all ployment in emerging economies; those catering and on planes, in all hospitals, The Policy Dilemmas who are beginning to occupy burgeon- and at conferences, and ask customers There are still many intractable policy ing cities; those who are less connected to sign in to asking for meat-based al- measures that need to be redesigned in to the natural world; and those who ternatives as an expression of “dietary order to support the direction of travel requirements”? And why not put excit- in lowering animal product consump- ing vegetarian foods in school cafeterias tion. These include measures to alter Nearly four-fifths of pigs and again ask pupils or their parents to perverse subsidies toward favoring meat reared in China are argue for a meat-based alternative? If production and supportive subsidies for nothing else, the exercise of suggesting housed in very intensive soybean farmers in the United States such nudging would cause the kinds of such that these soybeans are mainly used units, full of antibiotics learning processes that lie at the heart of for feeding animals but also exported to and hormones, and the new habituation. China, and incorporating relevant and creating huge problems linked social and environmental costs of waste effluent. Mentoring Mentoring fits in perfectly with the practices of shifting social and cultural referents and for assisting the socially and economically disadvantaged to address diet changes with a degree of calm and progressive purpose. Success- ful mentoring is undertaken by those trusted by those who are mentored, with whom they can engage with a high de- gree of comfort. Here surely is a place for social enterprise to flourish, as men- toring is a creative job market, attracting self-starting social entrepreneurs. Such a creative program of learning and men- toring fits in well with the social and iStock/vladacanon moral aspects of behavior change. And it should be paid for through the many health and environmental benefits that diet change can create. So another key Typical view of pigs representative of factory farming. 10 Environment www.environmentmagazine.org VOLUME 57 NUMBER 5
iStock/smithcjb Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 A great variety of organic vegetables appetizingly displayed in a shop. want to make a statement about their beginnings of a policy interest in more that we are not being advocates here— newfound prosperity. Here is a real dif- efficient livestock production systems, just pointing out the policy dilemmas in ficulty. For these consumers, the kinds a move away from fat-enhancing veg- prospect. of processes outlined in this analysis are etable oils, greater concern over animal not as likely to prove effective. welfare, and, with growing urban afflu- Take the case of the expanding pig ence, a shift to more quality foods, in- Implications for production and consumption of pros- cluding a move away from meat.16 Their Sustainability Science pering China.15 The average Chinese analysis also points out that the public eats 35 kg of pork per year, five times health and environmental aspects of We conclude by providing a sustain- what their predecessors consumed in Chinese livestock production are by no ability science perspective of the genu- 1979. Nearly four-fifths of pigs reared means a matter of public concern or po- ine challenges that face campaigners in China are housed in very intensive litical attention.16 The authors are also and motivated people when addressing units, full of antibiotics and hormones, convinced that these matters are bound this theme. One critical blockage here and creating huge problems of waste to become more critical in the light of is the need to work with regulators and effluent. For every kilogram of pork, the Chinese commitment to greenhouse food corporations, whose ethos does 6 kg of soya or corn feed is required. gas emission reduction, land use deg- not normally extend to moving diets Even though China produces much radation, pollution more generally, and away from livestock-based products, home-grown feed, more than half of the public health in particular. yet whose cooperation will be required global soya production and well over To establish a diet-changing recipe by researchers working in sustainabil- one-third of corn trade is destined for will require prior commitment by the ity partnerships if voluntary dietary Chinese hogs.15 China has not signed big livestock-consuming countries and change is to be attempted. We also note up for sustainable roundtables of either polities to face up to the kinds of chal- the research evidence summarized by soya or corn, and is currently pursu- lenges we offer here. Here surely is where Garnett et al. showing that consumers ing agricultural land purchases in the the learning and behavior-shifting pro- will not be sufficiently moved to switch United States and Africa to assure its cesses will require a global campaign of their livestock diet preferences in a porcine trade flows. Garnett and Wilkes awareness raising, of corporate buy-in, hurry, nor by any whiff of compulsion point to a possible 50% increase of meat of much-improved redistribution of or moral hassle. Here is a test case for consumption in China over the decade consumer affordability, and of commu- the emerging success of sustainability 2010 to 2020 with a 70% take of world nity-encouraged moral transformation, science. Like it or not, the world has to soya trade (from 63% in 2010) by the which are the hallmarks of social trans- confront the necessity of engaging with end of the decade.16 They also note the formation for sustainability. We stress the wider (moral, societal, equitable, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 www.environmentmagazine.org environment 11
iStock/SolStock Before retiring in July 2005, Tim O’Riordan was a pro- fessor of environmental sciences at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Susanne Stoll-Kleemann is Professor and Chair of Sus- tainability Science and Applied Geography at the Univer- sity of Greifswald, Germany, with previous positions at Humboldt University of Berlin, at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and at the Swiss Federal In- stitute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich with research on biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. Notes 1. T. Garnett, S. Mathewson, P. Angelides, and F. Borthwick, Policies and Actions To Shift Eating Patterns: What Works? A Review of the Evidence of the Effectiveness of Interventions Aimed at Shifting Diets in More Sustain- able and Healthy Directions (Oxford, UK: Food Climate Research Network (FCRN) and Chatham House, 2015). 2. D. Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow (London, UK: Penguin, 2011). 3. S. Loughnan, B. Bastian, and N. Haslam, “The Psy- School children should get accustomed to eating healthy vegetables as early as possible. chology of Eating Animals,” Current Directions in Psycho- logical Science 23 (2014): 104–8. 4. E. Shove, “Beyond the ABC: climate change policy Downloaded by [87.188.145.2] at 10:06 31 August 2015 and theories of social change,” Environment and Planning health, intergenerational) prompts for a key marker is the scope to convene the 42 (2010): 1273–1285. 5. A. Darnton, Reference Report: An Overview of Be- shifting diets, because of the enormity kinds of global information and knowl- haviour Change Models and Their Uses. GSR Behaviour of the consequences in the coming edge that touch the hearts and minds of Change Knowledge Review (Westminster, UK: Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Westminster, decade of letting livestock consump- people in meaningful ways.17 This places 2008). tion rip, and the unavoidability of a new dimension on sustainability sci- 6. K. Lewin, Field Theory in Social Sciences; Selected ignoring it. ence being part clinical and analytical, Papers on Group Dynamics (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1951). Here possibly is a role for the major part advocate, and part ambassadorial, 7. J. Fisher, W. Fisher, A. Bryan and S. Misovich, science institutions to act in an equiva- all the while connecting the personal to “Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model–Based HIV Risk Behavior Change Intervention for Inner-City lent manner to the climate scientists un- the social to the contextual. Grappling High School Youth,” Health Psychology 21, no. 2 (2002): der the banner of the Intergovernmental with dietary behavior change provides 177–86. 8. Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach, quoted in Panel on Climate Change. Because of the setting for this exciting new science VEBU, Anzahl der Vegetarier in Deutschland, https:// the many dimensions to diet and people to flourish. vebu.de/themen/lifestyle/anzahl-der-vegetarierinnen (accessed June 3, 2015). and the planet, not to mention the in- 9. Organic-market.info, The Vegetarian Lifestyle Is ternational aspects and cultural and re- a Long-Term Development, http://organic-market.info/ ligious features, such a process needs the Note news-in-brief-and-reports-article/vegetarian.html (ac- cessed 5 May 2015). interdisciplinary and interactive charac- © Tim O’Riordan and Susanne Stoll- 10. U.S. National Library of Medicine, http://www. teristics of sustainability science.17 This Kleemann. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562864 (accessed May 7, 2015). is especially the case in light of the new Published with license by Taylor & 11. A. Hildmann, Attila Hildmann—Vegan Chef and habituation and social conformity that Francis Group, LLC. Book Author, http://www.attilahildmann.com/en/vegan- chef-attila-hildmann.html (accessed May 5, 2015). low-livestock-input diets should reflect. This is an Open Access article. 12. Care2, The Best City for Vegans?, http://www. In any case, it is also essential that sus- Non-commercial re-use, distribution, care2.com/greenliving/a-vegan-uprising-in-germany. tainability science shows that its very and reproduction in any medium, html (accessed May 5, 2015). special qualities are precisely required provided the original work is properly 13. A. Slavik, Schwedische Falafel. Vegane Kött- bullar von Ikea, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, http://www. of this dietary and cultural shift (not to attributed, cited, and is not altered, sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/vegane-koettbullar-von- transformed, or built upon in any way, ikea-schwedische-falafel-1.2427628 (accessed June 6, mention the reduction of dissonance is permitted. The moral rights of the 2015). and of corporate lobbying that such a named author(s) have been asserted. 14. E. Segal, Is Israel going to be the first vegan na- new habituation must engender). Thus, tion? The Vegan Women, 2014, http://www.thevegan woman.com/israel-going-first-vegan-nation/ (accessed June 5, 2015). 15. The Economist, “Empire of the Pig. Swine in China,” December 20, 2014, http://www.economist.com/ news/christmas-specials/21636507-chinas-insatiable- Like it or not, the world has to confront the necessity appetite-pork-symbol-countrys-rise-it-also (accessed of engaging with the wider (moral, societal, equitable, May 5, 2015). 16. T. Garnett and A. Wilkes, Appetite for Change. health, intergenerational) prompts for shifting diets, Social, Economic and Environmental Transformations in China’s Food System (Oxford, UK: Food Climate Research because of the enormity of the consequences in the coming Network, 2014). decade of letting livestock consumption rip, 17. T. O`Riordan and C. le Quéré, “Future Earth: A Science Agenda for Sustainability and Human Prosper- and the unavoidability of ignoring it. ity,” British Academy Review 22 (2013/14): 25–29. 12 Environment www.environmentmagazine.org VOLUME 57 NUMBER 5
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