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How to respond to the "But what about the farmers?" argument? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by SpiceDealer@lemmy.world to c/climate@slrpnk.net

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We've all seen this "question" thrown around. It's a smear disguised as an inquiry meant to present climate activists and climate-conscious people as trying to take jobs away from "hard working" farmers. When talking about climate issues with people, this one of the most common responses I get. But here's the thing: I know it's a bullshit question but I don't how to explain why it's a bullshit question. Any help? Thanks in advance.

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[–] tyler@programming.dev -5 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I don’t follow. How is climate action going to affect farmers at all? Farmers don’t have anything to do with emissions.

[–] hollyberries@programming.dev 5 points 3 months ago

Farmers are responsible for plenty of emissions. We dealt with this behaviour here in The Netherlands for a while.

Controversial opinion

I was on their side with regards to the lack of transition planning until they started setting things on fire and blocking supermarkets and emergency services. Now they can go get fucked and fall in line with the rest of us.

[–] sinkingship@mander.xyz 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Land use (and with that agriculture) has a lot to do with emissions. Imagine a forest cleared to farm palm oil. All that stored carbon is now in the atmosphere. Think about the staple crop rice emitting methane, due to the nature of water submerged fields.

If not emissions, water usage is also a big concern. Like farming water intensive crops in areas where water is sparse, just because the crop is very profitable, but maybe not very nutritious.

[–] rimu@piefed.social 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Also, beef & dairy - cows burp & fart A LOT of methane which is 20x more warming than carbon dioxide.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 1 points 3 months ago

Beef and dairy isn’t farming. That’s ranching. I’m asking about farming.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I’m asking about climate action affecting farmers in general. Yes, water is a good point. My main point is that farmers are an incredibly small part of emissions, the majority come from construction, oil and gas, and ranching.

[–] sinkingship@mander.xyz 1 points 3 months ago

Oh, sorry I misread your first comment.

First: acriculture is a major greenhouse gas contributor, globally.

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture is significant: The agriculture, forestry and land use sectors contribute between 13% and 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Source: Wikipedia

I'm not sure how they affected by climate action. I can only assume it's a sector, where it's very difficult to remove emissions, unlike other sectors without impacting the crop amount? Like reducing farm animals or fertilizers and machinery?

Here is a short breakdown of emissions in agriculture from "ourworldindata.org".

[–] DeadPand@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago

Climate clients will and has already affected crop yields