Species Unite
Drew Pendergrass: Half Earth Socialism
Jul 7, 2022
Drew Pendergrass, a Harvard PhD student in environmental engineering and co-author of Half-Earth Socialism, dives into radical solutions to combat climate change and extinction. He highlights the surprising resistance to abolishing animal agriculture, which consumes vast land yet contributes little to nutrition. The conversation shifts to the transformative potential of rewilding and global veganism. Plus, learn about an engaging video game that educates players on these critical issues, blending fun with eco-consciousness.
32:49
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Quick takeaways
- The proposal for Half-Earth Socialism emphasizes rewilding half the Earth's land to combat extinction and enhance biodiversity through a systemic economic shift.
- Promoting global veganism is essential for reducing land usage and ecological impact from agriculture, yet it faces significant societal resistance and pushback.
Deep dives
The Concept of Half-Earth Socialism
Half-Earth Socialism proposes that to avert the ongoing sixth mass extinction, half of the Earth's land should be preserved for non-human animals. This idea, popularized by naturalist E.O. Wilson, highlights that extinction rates are closely tied to the amount of available habitat. The authors argue that to achieve this ambitious goal, a new economic system, specifically a socialist society, is necessary to facilitate massive changes in resource allocation, including land usage for agriculture and conservation. Integrating indigenous sovereignty into this design enriches biodiversity while challenging traditional conservation models that may not be effective.
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