Al Gore was recently discussing the Copenhagen climate change summit with Leigh Sales on ABC’s Lateline. Ms Sales asked the former US vice president to comment on Lord Stern advocating that people take action against climate change by going vegetarian, “because meat is a wasteful use of water and it creates a lot of greenhouse gases.”

Mr Gore responded that he has “cut back sharply” on meat, and that “it’s absolutely correct that the growing meat intensity of diets around the world is one of the issues connected to this global crisis.” He added that meat has other serious environmental impacts, such as over-use of water.

Mr Gore also stated, “You could add in the health consequences as well. We’ve all heard from our doctors for many years that vegetables and fruits should occupy a bigger part of all of our diets…”

The only point Mr Gore made against advocating vegetarianism for everyone was that it can be “difficult” to get agreement. Mr Gore indicated support for vegetarianism, stating that “saying everybody should become a vegetarian” is a “legitimate point of view”.

Full Lateline interview transcript:

www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2733567.htm

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