
Meat alternatives are greener than meat, right? Well, let’s look at the data. To try everything Brilliant has to offer for free for a full 30 days, visit https://www.brilliant.org/simonclark.
ERRATUM: At 8:58 we show tempeh (spelled as tempei) as having a carbon intensity of 0.5kg CO2e / gram of protein. This is incorrect, it should be 2.5kg CO2e / gram of protein.
We often hear that meat alternatives are better for the environment. To test that, I look at the carbon footprint, land use, and other environmental metrics of the major meat substitutes and compared them to beef, chicken, pork, and mutton. The result may surprise you!
Thanks to Dr Ritchie for coming on the channel! Check out her work here: https://hannahritchie.com/
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
NUMBERED REFERENCES can be found on my website: www.simonoxfphys.com/blog/2024/4/23/references-for-how-great-is-fake-meat-really
———- II ———-
More about me https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
Threads – https://www.threads.net/@simonoxfphys
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Editor: Luke Negus.
Research assistant: Pierre Constantin Emmanuel Canet.
How green are meat substitutes? Is fake meat actually good for the environment? Do tofu, beyond meat burgers, quorn, and soy protein have lower carbon emissions than chicken, beef, and pork? In this video I look through the literature and talk to a world expert on the intersection between food and climate.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Norm Zemke, Whitefang, David Mann, Jilbin George, Ben Thayer, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Daniel Chen, Gary Stark, Cifer, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, bitreign33.
Bastian Pranzas, Lucas Johnston, Jeffry ., Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Pawel Piwek, Matze, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Dan Sherman, Peter Reid, Andy Hartley.
Steamrollerman , Andy Parr, Ricky Jones, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, Jor Eero Raico Svederic, KJ Xiao, Martin Sinclair, Matt Beer DFC, Tschäff Reisberg, Faficzek, Tobias Ahsbahs, Stansky, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Michael Thomas, Victor Gordan, Josh Müller, Joona Mäkinen, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Laura Glismann, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, John, James Haigh, Rick Kenny, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, Command Chat, Aisolon, Christopher Mullin, I’m stuck in a PhD and I blame Simon., Philip Sullivan, Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, AngryPanda, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Hampus Sandell, Thomas Miller, Knut Nesheim, Issy Merritt, Dajeni, AYS , Adam Fairris, Kim Parnset, Crisan Talpes, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, Duncan Robertson, xawt, Diederik Jekel, Fuzzy Leapfrog, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Samat Galimov, Ashley Hauck, Nico, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, Sam, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Alexander Johnston, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Tom Marsh, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Oriol MP, Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Eddy Torres, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Vernon Swanepoel, Jacob Speelman, Robin Anne McDuff, Jean-Marc Giffin, Felix Winkler, Quinn Sinclair, Ebraheem Farag, Ivari Tölp, Thomas Charbonnel, Sekhalis, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, Trevor Berninger, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, ST0RMW1NG, Matthew Powell, Adrian Sand, Haris Karimjee, Alex, The Cairene on Caffeine, Cody VanZandt, Casandra “Kalamity Kas” Toledo, Igor Francetic, Daniel Irwin, Sean Richards, Michael B., Rafaela Corrêa Pereira, Colin J. Brown, Thusto , Lachlan Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5GmDRW975g
Climate Change Videos
The worst month of climate news in my entire career

Want to restore the planet’s ecosystems and see your impact in monthly videos? The first 100 people to join Planet Wild with my code SIMON10 will get the first month for free at: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/join
If you want to get to know them better first, check out their project using beehive fences to protect elephants and humans: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/m10
This month has been really tough. Let’s talk about why, and how we talk about climate in general. Oh, and how I’ve been staying sane. (?)
My monthly newsletter: https://www.simonoxfphys.com/newsletter
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
REFERENCES
1. https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-greenhouse-gases-wmo-un-708c3d35ce6fc3d3bcaccafdba6bba45
2. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/15/record-leap-in-co2-fuels-fears-of-accelerating-global-heating
3. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/28/change-course-now-humanity-has-missed-15c-climate-target-says-un-head
4. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2025-10/state-of-climate-action-2025.pdf
5. https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/090d2fbb-32a6-412b-a3b8-1ce5c5905df2
6. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/super-warming-methane-gas-is-being-tackled-too-slowly-un-says-ahead-cop30-2025-10-22/
7. https://global-tipping-points.org/about-us/
8. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-GB/
9. https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/global-banking-climate-group-collapses-after-us-policy-shift-q6szfdjkh
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.
Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zBoXY5YeVo
Climate Change Videos
The future of climate denial
They’re hijacking the whales. Get access to my extra content on Nebula with 40% off at https://go.nebula.tv/simonclark
You can watch my chat with Ian about identifying astroturfed community groups here: https://nebula.tv/videos/simonclark-talking-about-how-to-identify-astroturfed-community-groups-with-my-new-researcher
REFERENCES
1. https://www.notion.so/drsimonclark/rechargenews.com/suppliers/orders-already-in-for-world-s-most-powerful-wind-turbine/2-1-1874493?zephr_sso_ott=9LG4eM
2. https://ourworldindata.org/electricity-mix
3. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/wind
4. https://www.green-oceans.org/
5. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TAZwRijVCg204T1yqepDflcGvs-zaqCX/view
6. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nrMSJOxI6Iqw6HRKtnvWjOkj3tp_gCRE/view
7. https://apnews.com/article/offshore-wind-whales-deaths-trump-5158af7f5bf0f5ef9e1530564ff791a9
8. https://www.desmog.com/2018/07/14/fake-grassroots-campaigns-astroturf-deserve-uprooting/
9. https://www.desmog.com/2024/02/08/revealed-the-climate-denial-network-behind-classic-astroturf-farmers-campaign/
10. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/24/trump-wind-power-threats-homes
11. https://www.eenews.net/articles/internal-emails-reveal-interiors-empire-wind-deliberations/
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Research and fact-checking by Ian L. Campbell
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.
Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, Ethan , FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Guy Markey, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlKRdH6A4
Climate Change Videos
We’re this close to a huge climate win

Learn new skills in maths, science, and data with Brilliant: https://brilliant.org/simonclark (use my link for a 20% discount!)
Let’s talk about methane. Where it comes from, what we can do to bring emissions down, and why there are a lot of reasons for optimism.
My swim fundraiser: https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/8823/simonswim/
REFERENCES
1. https://climate.copernicus.eu/climate-indicators/temperature
2. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/349b7eb2-9f26-443a-b191-1f1616955758/GlobalMethaneTracker2025.pdf
3. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ad6463
4. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/understanding-methane-emissions
5. https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/carbon-management-and-fossil-fuels/methane-emissions_en
6. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/
7. https://www.methanesat.org/satellite
8. https://timeforch4nge.org/
9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clynre7leyjo
10. https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/
11. https://www.kayrros.com/the-global-methane-pledge-three-years-on-partial-progress-report/
12. https://www.hronikatm.com/2024/11/sputnikovye-dannye-pokazyvayut-chto-na-mestorozhdeniyah-turkmenistana-i-ssha-nablyudaetsya-bolshaya-utechka-metana-chem-soobshhaetsya/
13. https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/australias-methane-crisis-unmasking-the-gas-we-cant-ignore/
14. https://www.edfeurope.org/news/2023/15/11/eus-new-landmark-climate-legislation-clamps-down-methane-emissions-energy-imports
15. https://www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk03/202311/t20231107_1055437.html
16. https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-does-chinas-new-methane-plan-mean-for-its-climate-goals/
18. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/hist/n9050us2a.htm
19. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/methane-emissions
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, bitreign33 .
Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, Andy Hartley.
Fred, flakykilowatt, Peter Lee, Bill Keydel, Yorick Droz, Michelle Valentinova, Ian Hamilton, Reid, Kristopher Sicari, Mercure, j51t, David Stone, Daniel Cooney, Richard Swain, Duffman, Claudia Kapp, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Martin, Nick Humphries, Baerbel Winkler, OldGreyWolf, Hannarrrr, Andy Parr, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, KJ Xiao, Tschäff Reisberg, Tobias Ahsbahs, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Victor Gordan, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, John, James Haigh, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Knut Nesheim, AYS , Forever Bulking, Crisan Talpes, Pawel Piwek, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, Diederik Jekel, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Ashley Hauck, Nico Kempe, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Jacob Speelman, Jean-Marc Giffin, Cifer, Christian Weckner, Thomas Charbonnel, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, Dan Sherman, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Haris Karimjee, Alex, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Sean Richards, Michael Belde, Thusto , Lach Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgQuylcfiLk
-
Climate Change3 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Spanish-language misinformation on renewable energy spreads online, report shows
-
Greenhouse Gases3 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Greenhouse Gases1 year ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change Videos2 years ago
The toxic gas flares fuelling Nigeria’s climate change – BBC News
-
Climate Change1 year ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Carbon Footprint2 years agoUS SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rules Spur Renewed Interest in Carbon Credits
-
Renewable Energy4 months ago
US Grid Strain, Possible Allete Sale
