?Beef is a huge culprit in contributing to global warming?: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh bats for vegetarian lifestyle in Kerala

“I have always held this view that if you want to do something on global warming, become a vegetarian,” Ramesh said.

“I know that the beef curry is a very important element in Kerala’s diet but there is no doubt in my mind that the carbon footprint of a non-vegetarian diet is greater than the carbon footprint of a vegetarian diet,” said Former Environment minister Jairam Ramesh MP in Kochi. He was participating in a discussion on the ecosystem of Western Ghats at the Krithi International book fair, organised by a state government-controlled society.

Responding to a question on the role of veganism in fighting climate change, the Congress leader said the beef industry is a “huge culprit” in contributing to global warming and adoption of a vegetarian lifestyle would help fight the threat.

“I have always held this view that if you want to do something on global warming, become a vegetarian,” Ramesh said.

He said forests are cut down in countries like Argentina, Brazil and the US to make room for the cattle population which emit climate-damaging methane gas which is a more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. He also said that the choice of the food is a lifestyle issue.

He claimed that ancient Indians were non-vegetarians. “Somehow we got converted to vegetarianism may be because of the influence of Jainism and Buddhism,” he added.