308 replies to this topic

[SophieB]

Lewis Hamilton has plainly been ruminating on things climate change-y for a while, with his Instagram post being one hell of Molotov cocktail hurled into the audience.
 
(via @JennieGow)

 

 
... then following it up to talk about the efforts he is making with his Vegan diet, not buying plastics, selling his private jet etc etc
 
 

Andrew Benson‏Verified account @andrewbensonf1 12h12 hours ago

More

BBC Sport - Mexican Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton defends environmental social media posts

https://www.bbc.co.u...rmula1/50176037
 
 
 
fwiw, I don't have very strong feelings either way. My reaction to his emotional instagram post was a mixture of 'Aw' because he seems genuinely upset about it all and 'bless' about how seemingly unprepared he was for the inevitable questions about his own lifestyle and tbh, rather liking it when the drivers say what is plainly genuinely on their minds. I suppose if this boils down to any question that can be discussed here it would be something like 'To what extent is it possible to be an ethical F1 driver?' 
 
I'm sure there are other strands to pull at here but please whichever ones you pull at, make sure they still include F1 in there. This isn't a soapbox to either decry climate change activism or the evils of climate change causers. (If you want to do either of those, we do have a thread on the Extinction Rebellion people in the Paddock Club, the area of the messageboard that is for discussion of non racing topics.)

[Jovanotti]

I'll take him seriously when he sells his private jet and his supercars. Until then, he's as bloody hypocritical as all the politicians.

[Ben1445]

You know, I'd be really supportive of Hamilton becoming a voice for change within F1. I'm glad that he (and we) are talking about about this because it matters. 

 

His follow up comments about making sustainable choices in his lifestyle should be applauded*. Same for his efforts to change the practices of his team to be more sustainable. 

 

His mention of F1 using a third less fuel than it used to do with the hybrids (one of F1's big mistakes was not shouting about that from the rooftops imo) is good to hear and his support pushing for further improvements to that figure is encouraging. 

 

The scathing comments calling him a hypocrite are misplaced for me. If an F1 driver, of all people, can recognise their impact and make efforts to change, then maybe there's hope after all. 

 

If he can use his influence to make F1 more environmentally aware and promote sustainable practices, then good on him. 

 

_{*On the surface I initially thought he was a hypocrite when this story came up. But reading about him selling his private jet, taking fewer flights (and flying commercial when he does) and choosing to switch to entirely recyclable and sustainable products back up his position for me.} 

Edited by Ben1445, 25 October 2019 - 07:56.

[Marklar]

'To what extent is it possible to be an ethical F1 driver?'

It's really not much different to any normal person and depends on whether you see the world binary or not.

Every human uses toilet paper, the car, products that are bad for the enviroment, almost everyone flies in planes, work for a company with huge carbon footprint, uses too much plastic, many eat meat or dont throw away their trash into the bin. There is no single ethical person in a binary world, which why it feels silly to cry hypocrite every time somebody speaks up for it.

And in fact, Lewis did a lot already as he mentioned. F1 itself did also at least invest in projects to be carbon neutral and - unfortunately for many of us - has become itself more enviromental friendly in the last decades. Sure, you *can* do more, but with these things it's always a matter of balance. The F1 circus in the end is a drop in the ocean compared to many other things.

Making people aware is very important regardless of your position, though I wish Lewis would have used a different tone. But then again he probably would get knocked down regardless.

[Lights]

It's not that difficult to take a side. Hamilton is rigth. Even TheSun supports Hamilton on this.

Edited by Lights, 25 October 2019 - 07:55.

[Marklar]

I'll take him seriously when he sells his private jet and his supercars. Until then, he's as bloody hypocritical as all the politicians.

He sold his private jet and some of his cars a long time ago.

[SophieB]

I'll take him seriously when he sells his private jet and his supercars. Until then, he's as bloody hypocritical as all the politicians.

 

Good news on that score!

 

e. beaten by Marklar

[Jovanotti]

^Sorry, wasn't up to date the

[Maxioos]

Selling his plane but chartering private jets doesn't say/change anything. 

 

Edit: Too add towards this. If he truly believes this, he should stop F1, not because of the cars, but overall "impact". All the supporters traveling towards the events, all the media traveling. All the broadcasting energy and energy used by us supporters to watch it. All energy used to discuss this topic atm. alone. Server of the forum, my PC energy, and the once reading it.

Edited by Maxioos, 25 October 2019 - 08:05.

[Marklar]

Selling his plane but chartering private jets doesn't say/change anything.

He flies commercial though

[Clatter]

Isn't this something that should be in the paddock club? It's not really race related.

[statman]

some reactions this week, because of course journalists are following other drivers like hyenas to get some juicy quotes:

 

If F1 wants to go green "we should stay home & forget racing" - Raikkonen

https://www.racefans...acing-raikkonen

 

Alonso was asked about Hamilton's "controversial" quotes: ""My eating habits or my ideas, as I just explained, I think I would keep them for myself. I would never release the message that Lewis released, for example, because you can't send a message and then do the opposite the next day"

https://soymotor.com...lanzo-el-970309

 

"I like fuel, can I say that? I don't like electricic. We shouldn't be too dramatic," Max refers to eco-fever in the Formula 1 paddock. "Sometimes I also like to eat a hamburger. Everyone decides for themselves.

 

Grosjean not convinced by Hamilton's 'plant-based' diet

https://www.racefans...ant-based-diet/

Edited by statman, 25 October 2019 - 08:09.

[Vitesse2]

Article on this on Racer with reaction from Seb, Kimi, KMag and Max. I have to say that Max's comments are not a good look and I suspect he may get a bit of a bollocking from Horner for them. Max is supposedly 'the future of F1' but what he's saying is basically "I don't give a ****, I'm going to keep on doing the same things." Perhaps he's not as deep a thinker as Lewis?*

 

https://racer.com/20...n-up-f1-debate/

 

* Or trying to appeal to the Tifosi?

[Paincake]

Pardon me? Whats ****ed up about the world, is SJW such as Mr Hamilton, thinking they can dictate how the world should live. This ''agriculture'' thing hes talking about is simply small farmers in my country, and our government is subsidizing the smaller farmers. We have some of the best milk and yogurt. Second, why does he want the world to become vegetarian? I sure don't want to. I tried a long time ago, and I started looking ill and unhealthy. Becoming a vegetarian damaged my health, my hair fell off and my mood was terrible to due lower testosterone and unoptimal hormonal balance.

 

But of course Lewis Hamilton knows best! And this message is literally comming from his biggest fan, being a big fan of his driving. Certainly not a fan of his way of thinking. Dangerous territory into bringing society into A Brave New World (as envisioned by Aldous Huxley).

[P123]

He flies commercial though

GRRRR.... etc!

Anyway, good luck on anybody being perfectly neutral to the environment.... everybody can do their bit, including Hamilton. Even if you don't buy man made climate change, it's surely better not to be ******* in your own house, so to speak...

I thought Hamilton explained himself well enough in his PC in Mexico, and for once, finally, he had the correct attitude- 'if you don't like what I say, tough', rather than backtracking to appease the baying mob.

[Maxioos]

He flies commercial though

 

And, i'm Santa.

 

It's not even possible with his schedule, i'm quite convince about that.

[SophieB]

Isn't this something that should be in the paddock club? It's not really race related.

 
It's an edge case. Ultimately it seemed silly that a major F1 story on the BBC F1, Autosport and RaceFans front page was somehow nonetheless not relevant! As long as it's discussing Hamilton's comments in terms of its impact on F1 rather than as a gateway to sounding off for or against climate change activists in general, it can stay. Happy to discuss further by PM.

 

As a wider aside, take the hint, guys.

[Ben1445]

The only way for humans to have zero impact on the environment is for humans to not exist. Which is not a realistic option.

Our challenge is understating and minimising our impact. In light of that understanding we need to change our practices accordingly.

I think F1 has every right and obligation to be part of that change.

[Ben1445]

Have to say, Verstappen’s comments really do not put him in a good light at all.

I respect someone who’s looking to reduce an impact and effectively accepting a degree of unavoidably hypocrisy about it than someone who simply couldn’t care less.

[Vitesse2]

Pardon me? Whats ****ed up about the world, is SJW such as Mr Hamilton, thinking they can dictate how the world should live. This ''agriculture'' thing hes talking about is simply small farmers in my country, and our government is subsidizing the smaller farmers. We have some of the best milk and yogurt. Second, why does he want the world to become vegetarian? I sure don't want to. I tried a long time ago, and I started looking ill and unhealthy. Becoming a vegetarian damaged my health, my hair fell off and my mood was terrible to due lower testosterone and unoptimal hormonal balance.

 

But of course Lewis Hamilton knows best! And this message is literally comming from his biggest fan, being a big fan of his driving. Certainly not a fan of his way of thinking. Dangerous territory into bringing society into A Brave New World (as envisioned by Aldous Huxley).

 

I suspect that what Lewis was referring to was the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest to create unsustainable arable fields which are effectively sterile within a few years and thus require farmers to burn down/cut down yet more forest. Or the deforestation of areas in Indonesia in order to produce unsustainable palm oil.

 

https://www.wwf.org....-about-palm-oil

 

BTW, using descriptions like 'SJW' and 'complete alpha' doesn't do your case any favours.

[JeePee]

Two things:

 

- The planet will survive just fine.

Human race maybe not, but the planet will live.

 

- The biggest problem is not farming, but over population and the ever growing number of people on earth.

As long as world leaders, Greta, or people like Hamilton fail to mention that, I do not take them seriously on this subject.

Edited by JeePee, 25 October 2019 - 08:24.

[Gary Davies]

I do feel a lot of sympathy for Lewis on this matter. Climate change and in particular, strategies and technologies to decarbonise our power generation, have been an issue of great concern to me for many years. David Suzuki's writing and speeches woke me up in that sense back in the mid-eighties.

 

There are many aspects to the challenge and in Lewis's words I see someone who is passionate and sincere but whose arguments and solutions still have some developing to do. 

 

I'm sure he is aware of the accusations of hypocrisy that will be thrown at him and if that's the case, then I applaud him even more for going public with his not-yet-fully-formed ideas.

 

Overall, it is just brilliant that such a high profile individual has gone public with his concerns about what we're doing to our planet. Even if the majority today want to pour scorn on him, there will be others, a small number initially, who will pause and reflect on the whole question of damage we are doing to our only home. And that is a good thing.

 

None of this, by the way, is to place my position anywhere near the Extinction Rebellion people. Their vision of a 15th century agrarian society is both ludicrous and unachievable. Probably well intentioned but a clear example of extremism. What we can do, though, is move to a world where are not continually poisoning the very air we breathe and using the atmosphere as our waste dump. 

 

Goodonya Lewis.

Edited by Gary Davies, 25 October 2019 - 08:35.

[Lights]

My fellow country man being a complete alpha, instead of the cowardice that complies with today's lobby bringing us closer to a Brave New World.

 

It's funny how people can look at things so differently.

 

Hamilton's Instagram posts might not have been completely my style, but the fact he's putting his thoughts and feelings out there makes him the alpha to me.

[Marklar]

And, i'm Santa.

It's not even possible with his schedule, i'm quite convince about that.

It is true though. Some f1 journalists even tweeted on some occasions when they saw him on a commercial flight. Even to Baku where it makes no sense to fly commercial if you can charter a jet. He was also seen taking a commercial flight with Seb after Sochi I think, for example.

Private flights are most of the time not even quicker than commercial flights, the only advantage timing wise is that you can take it whenever while for commercial flights there are a couple of fixed flights per day, but that's marginal.

[Thatfastguy]

The only reason he preaches veganism is because that's where he's 'allowed' to lecture others. This stuff is coming from the man who flies over the world every two weeks driving formula 1 cars. 

The hypocrisy is beyond disgusting. 

Edited by Thatfastguy, 25 October 2019 - 08:25.

[statman]

I always notice a trend on this forum

 

other topic: why are there not more personalities in F1, Everyone is the same and so PC?

this topic: Verstappen is such a #$@#@. Why does he like meat and fuel? Why doesn't he say what we want him to say?

 

other topics: F1 nowadays is so lame and boring, in the old days we had drivers like Hunt who stood out, and did controversial things.

current topics: Verstappen is such a $#$@. He gets kicked of podiums several times, get's into a shoving match and says whatever he wants to say!
 

[Marklar]

I always notice a trend on this forum

 

other topic: why are there not more personalities in F1, Everyone is the same and so PC?

this topic: Verstappen is such a #$@#@. Why does he like meat and fuel? Why doesn't he say what we want him to say?

Pretty sure that Verstappen's opinion is under the average fan the popular opinion, not the controversial opinion.

I actually dont think that his comments are this bad. He does acknowledge that there are issues, which is already more than many do, but just that F1 shouldnt be part of the solution. Sure, a bit ignorant, but you can agree or disagree with that position of course. Just like you can agree or disagree with Hamilton's position.

[Requiem84]

Have to say, Verstappen’s comments really do not put him in a good light at all.

I respect someone who’s looking to reduce an impact and effectively accepting a degree of unavoidably hypocrisy about it than someone who simply couldn’t care less.

 

This is what Verstappen said:

 

I like fuel. Can I say that?” Verstappen said. “I don’t like electric stuff. I mean, I like my electric moped at home, but not for an F1 car. The environment is very important, but F1 has been around for a long time and I don’t think we should overreact or be a drama queen about it. Just get on with it. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.

“I watched his documentary about being plant-based. It’s actually quite interesting that a lot of athletes say they gain performance from it, but it’s different to Formula 1, where we are not limited in pace physically. Yeah you need to be strong and fit, but it’s not like cycling or running where it’s all you. I enjoy eating my burgers sometimes as well.

“I like real meat! Everybody for themselves, everyone can make their own decisions. But yeah, I’m not going to go vegan.”

 

 

I think there's not much wrong with what he says. He acknowledges the importance and the interesting part, but he simply has a different view. He then concludes everyone should make their own decision. 

 

We can't expect all drivers to go 100% pro environment and eco mode, can we?

[Risil]

- The biggest problem is not farming, but over population and the ever growing number of people on earth.
As long as world leaders, Greta, or people like Hamilton fail to mention that, I do not take them seriously on this subject.

 

Well on the overpopulation score Lewis doesn't have any children either. So... he's in the clear?

 

I'm more intrigued by Lewis buying an electric Smart car, if only so I can imagine him driving like Mrs Stitch from Scoop, avoiding traffic by hopping on and off pavements, through underground stations, into public toilets, etc.

[Ivanhoe]

Lewis (and Max) triggering the usual Pavlov responses. I have sympathy for both in this case (and don’t fully agree with either).

Edited by Ivanhoe, 25 October 2019 - 09:11.

[Muppetmad]

I find the "hypocrite" charge a frustrating one in several ways, but the most frustrating way is through the implication (from the media mostly, I should add) that F1 and pushes for climate solutions are incompatible. F1 (as defined in this article) has been carbon neutral since 1997. F1 is far from an unworthy platform for climate discussions.

[Anja]

Good for him. I often take issue with the super rich people preaching to others about climate change but at least Lewis seems to know that it's more about certain change in mentality rather than empty superficial gestures. That's the key. 

[Ben1445]

This is what Verstappen said:


I think there's not much wrong with what he says. He acknowledges the importance and the interesting part, but he simply has a different view. He then concludes everyone should make their own decision.

We can't expect all drivers to go 100% pro environment and eco mode, can we?

Well serves me right that I didn’t cross reference my sources. I concede that his comments aren’t *as* bad as I first thought.

I still disagree with him completely and can’t respect his guilt free attitude though.

[P123]

Pardon me? Whats ****ed up about the world, is SJW such as Mr Hamilton, thinking they can dictate how the world should live. This ''agriculture'' thing hes talking about is simply small farmers in my country, and our government is subsidizing the smaller farmers. We have some of the best milk and yogurt. Second, why does he want the world to become vegetarian? I sure don't want to. I tried a long time ago, and I started looking ill and unhealthy. Becoming a vegetarian damaged my health, my hair fell off and my mood was terrible to due lower testosterone and unoptimal hormonal balance.
 
But of course Lewis Hamilton knows best! And this message is literally comming from his biggest fan, being a big fan of his driving. Certainly not a fan of his way of thinking. Dangerous territory into bringing society into A Brave New World (as envisioned by Aldous Huxley).

I don't think it's Hamilton's opinion that is so much of an issue, rather over-reactions like your own. It's a pity you and others read his comments, feel under some pressure to 'change' (come off it people!), and lash out with a need to prove you won't be influenced. Sure, the whole climate change movement can be a touch preachy and overbearing but that doesn't mean the message is without any merit whatsoever.

[Thatfastguy]

He flies commercial though

 

Lewis's carbon footprint is still much, much larger than the average person. If he's really that concerced to the point where he wants to 'shut down completely', there's still many things he could do instead of making some instagram post trying to lecture orthers who can't sell their super cars or private jets.

[Jovanotti]

I once read that having one child equals a carbon footprint of 1000 transatlantic flights. So as soon as he doesn't reproduce, I guess he's compensated for some of his activities at least

(Hope I'm not about to learn now that he infact already has several children...).

Edited by Jovanotti, 25 October 2019 - 08:59.

[Requiem84]

Lewis's carbon footprint is still much, much larger than the average person. If he's really that concerced to the point where he wants to 'shut down completely', there's still many things he could do instead of making some instagram post trying to lecture orthers who can't sell their super cars or private jets.

 

His personal carbon footprint may be larger than the average joe, but his pro-environment stance might actually change the carbon footprint of many other people ('his fans') as they see him as an example. 

 

He can change behavior of others and he is in a great position to create awareness. 

 

I don't fully agree with him, but I applaud him for taking on this fight and for sharing his personal beliefs. 

[Risil]

Lewis's carbon footprint is still much, much larger than the average person. If he's really that concerced to the point where he wants to 'shut down completely', there's still many things he could do instead of making some instagram post trying to lecture orthers who can't sell their super cars or private jets.

 

Yeah but unlike many of the other hangers-on, sponsors' guests etc in the F1 paddock, he has to be there to do his job.

 

I'm not sure an F1 calendar consisting of 20 races round Lydden Hill would be as attractive, or I dunno maybe it would. I think I'd take a maximum of five.

[Vitesse2]

Yeah but unlike many of the other hangers-on, sponsors' guests etc in the F1 paddock, he has to be there to do his job.

 

I'm not sure an F1 calendar consisting of 20 races round Lydden Hill would be as attractive, or I dunno maybe it would. I think I'd take a maximum of five.

If reducing F1's carbon footprint means we see less of Martin Brundle interviewing airheaded C-list 'celebrities' and random boxers or footballers on his grid walk then I'm all for it!

[MikeV1987]

This whole thing has been cringey.

[P123]

Lewis (and Max) triggering the usual Pavlov responses. I have sympathy for both in this case (and don’t fully agree with either).

I'd say Max's response is many times more mature than some of the kneejerk attacks in this topic. It's fine to disagree with Hamilton, whilst acknowledging environmental issues, without thinking he has to go and live in a cave in order to adequately prove he isn't a hypocrite...

[Gary Davies]

This whole thing has been cringey.

An intriguing view. Some amplification, pray?

[SophieB]

I'd say Max's response is many times more mature than some of the kneejerk attacks in this topic. It's fine to disagree with Hamilton, whilst acknowledging environmental issues, without thinking he has to go and live in a cave in order to adequately prove he isn't a hypocrite...

 

Yeah, I thought his response was also fine - it seemed measured and also honest/sincere, the kind of thing that moves discussion forward.

[sopa]

I'll take him seriously when he sells his private jet and his supercars. Until then, he's as bloody hypocritical as all the politicians.

 

Selling a private jet and a supercar isn't efficient from pollution point of view, because then somebody else would start using them.

 

The most efficient way to curb carbon would be to disassemble these things completely and build something new with that raw material. I don't know, a solar panel? 

[F1matt]

Hard to take the comments of a man who requires 700 people to prepare a car for him and his team mate to drive around a track with 18 others in the name of sport seriously, if it bothers him that much he should take the approach of Mike Thackwell and walk away in protest and start another life. Call me a cynic but he has tried to be a musician, fashion designer, gangster rapper, celebrity and people don't take him seriously, maybe he has noticed that people talk about Greta and take her seriously and he craves the attention. He must have the ability to go and meet Putin, he should try and arrange an audience with the Chinese Premier when he goes to the Chines GP, they now burn more coal than every other country put together, he is in Austin soon, cant he get an audience with Trump to talk about their emissions? No, its much easier to sit at home and moan on Instagram. 

 

Despite the fact that he is a highly successful F1 driver I feel a bit sorry for him, whatever happened to that happy kid who tore up the junior formula and rattled Alonso? He needs to find some happiness in his life. 

[sopa]

This whole thing has been cringey.

 

I think the whole F1 business attempting to "fight" climate change is kind of an oxymoron. Of course F1 could take a small step here or there, but that's a small drop in the ocean even from their own business carbon emissions point of view (disregarding what is going on in the industries over the whole planet).

 

People have been put into an impossible situation. They keep living in a certain way, but they know it's "wrong". Well, let's prepare for doomsday then. Until then enjoy your jobs, which for F1 drivers means driving I guess.

 

The most efficient way for F1 to fight climate change would obviously be to shut it down, and for the drivers do something else - maybe live in their countryside cottages. But that's not an option anybody is going to discuss seriously, obviously.

 

But interesting times ahead, sure. Let's see if any driver's conscience is going to give in then. Facing climate change is as much a psychological question as it is practical.

[SenorSjon]

You know, I'd be really supportive of Hamilton becoming a voice for change within F1. I'm glad that he (and we) are talking about about this because it matters. 

 

His follow up comments about making sustainable choices in his lifestyle should be applauded*. Same for his efforts to change the practices of his team to be more sustainable. 

 

His mention of F1 using a third less fuel than it used to do with the hybrids (one of F1's big mistakes was not shouting about that from the rooftops imo) is good to hear and his support pushing for further improvements to that figure is encouraging. 

 

The scathing comments calling him a hypocrite are misplaced for me. If an F1 driver, of all people, can recognise their impact and make efforts to change, then maybe there's hope after all. 

 

If he can use his influence to make F1 more environmentally aware and promote sustainable practices, then good on him. 

 

_{*On the surface I initially thought he was a hypocrite when this story came up. But reading about him selling his private jet, taking fewer flights (and flying commercial when he does) and choosing to switch to entirely recyclable and sustainable products back up his position for me.} 

 

With creeping the seasons from 16 to 22 races and dragging a lot more stuff around than 1-2 decades ago (and we had refuelling back then), that third fuel saving is more than nullified by having 40-50% more races.

 

Article on this on Racer with reaction from Seb, Kimi, KMag and Max. I have to say that Max's comments are not a good look and I suspect he may get a bit of a bollocking from Horner for them. Max is supposedly 'the future of F1' but what he's saying is basically "I don't give a ****, I'm going to keep on doing the same things." Perhaps he's not as deep a thinker as Lewis?*

 

https://racer.com/20...n-up-f1-debate/

 

* Or trying to appeal to the Tifosi?

 

I think Horner thinks the same, espedcially with the full quote. And what would they say? Red Bulli is good (90% sugar and 10% caffeïne mixed in water)? I really dislike the moral high ground vegans think they belong. It took the 2008 crisis to shatter all kinds of Earth Dreams (glares at Honda). 

 

From that racer article he thinks suede is a substitute for leather upholstery... I don't think so. Especially with the carbon footprint grenades named children the leather is so much better. And I love leather seating so I'll order it whenever I can.

[Arundo]

This whole thing has been cringey.

 

Lewis "best fans ever" Hamilton is cringey 

 

But on a more serious note, its a hot topic these days to be green etc and speak your mind in which camp you are. Hamilton is on one end of the scope and Verstappen is on the other it seems, both their opinion and I will respect them for that.

Now where's my BBQ and that steak I want to prepare for the weekend.

[ElectricBoogie]

With his fortune, he could hand pick engineers and administrators to set up a new racing league or even racing foundation with multiple series, around really exciting more sustainable vehicles. Forget about Formula E, that's the compliance car of racing. Not there to wow existing race fans, more tractor than race car  in relative terms.

I'm not a fan of climate change hype. The role humanity plays is so minute compared to our moody sun and Earth's core. One little purge of lava makes us all insignificant for a couple of generations. Floods (we all live by oceans), blocking of sunlight (think we have a solar problem now...),etc.

CO2 is plant food. We're ignoring a food supply problem. Beef has a huge role in this. It takes a lot of food to grow a ccow and barely nets any edible returns. It's like 5x worse than chicken. And if you subscribe to that sort of thing, "greenhouse" gasses in spades.
We need to get rid of our beef addiction. Even dairy. It's delicious but unhealthy (2/3 humans are lactose intolerant) for ourselves and inefficient with resources.
If just 50% of humans demanded a decent piece of beef every day, we'd lose most of humanity to famine and war. Long before we'd somehow toast  or drown from "climate change".

Ignoring Earth's history, it may seem like climate has started changing recently.truth is, you probably live where glaciers used to be.And where dinosaurs used to roam. BOTH. Climate change happens. We are sitting on a 12,000km ball of lava but we measure only the 50 km of air between us and a live star just 7 minutes away at C. It's bound to fluctuate per location, even on average. 

That said, pollution is unacceptable. Cars need to be cleaner.  Not for CO2 but for toxic exhausts. We exhale more CO2 than we inhale for ccrying out loud, it's not about CO2 or even NOx. But we are taxed for it.
Battery Electric Vehicles are ONE way to improve out environmental footprint, but not the end game. We still fail to recycle and make greener choices. Huge hype for BEVs with the longest range while charging infra is getting better all the time. We are all environmental hooligans. Especially those in the Western World.

[sopa]

 I really dislike the moral high ground vegans think they belong. 

 

 

Well, truth be told, modern agriculture is based on oil. Without that it wouldn't be possible to feed close to 8 billion people. Not to mention transportation of food from rural to urban areas.

 

I think Hamilton's recommendation would help to reduce emissions, but certainly not eliminate it in any way.