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
Some thoughts on a surprising learning journey.
Get Nebula for 50% off: https://go.nebula.tv/simonclark
Ten Pound Traveller: https://nebula.tv/videos/jdraper-the-pirate-ship-docked-in-central-london-the-ten-pound-traveller?ref=simonclark
Key resources
– Carbon Brief debunking article: https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-no-europes-heatwaves-are-not-being-caused-by-declining-air-pollution
– Heated article on Republicans: https://heated.world/p/the-fossil-fuel-money-behind-the
– World Weather Attribution study on French and Spanish wildfires: https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/climate-change-increases-likelihood-of-compounding-drivers-of-severe-wildfire-conditions-in-france-and-spain/
– World Weather Attribution study on European precipitation/temperature: https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/increasingly-hot-europe-faces-more-severe-droughts-and-growing-challenges-for-water-and-land-management/
– Copernicus data on wildfire carbon emissions: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/copernicus-global-biomass-burning-emissions-2026-their-lowest-level-2003
– Article expanding on Copernicus data: https://phys.org/news/2026-07-wildfires-extreme-europe-north-america.html
– UK wildfire data: https://www.moorlandassociation.org/post/2026-uk-wildfire-emissions-data
– Ayesha Tandon: https://www.youtube.com/@AyeshaTandon
– State of Wildfires: https://stateofwildfires.com/latest-report/
– How to prevent a wildfire: https://smileymovement.org/news/how-to-prevent-a-wildfire
Places to get good climate reporting
– Carbon Brief: https://www.carbonbrief.org/
– DeSmog: https://www.desmog.com/
– Heated: https://heated.world/
– Climate Brink: https://www.theclimatebrink.com/
Fire-related charities
– Fire Aid: https://www.fire-aid.org/
– One Tree Planted: https://onetreeplanted.org/products/wildfire-fund
– After the Fire USA: https://afterthefireusa.org/
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.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Artem Plotnikov, Ben Curtis, David TLR, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, TheKeeperOfPie, Tom Oldfield.
Adam Gillard, Adam Pazderka, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Hartley, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, Atkinson , AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bastian Pranzas, Ben Blower, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Andersson, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Dom, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Gabriele Siino, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, Ian Hamilton, idris, j, Jack Fretwell, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, Jekel’s Climate Channel, Joachim Murat, John, Josef Probst, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, Knut Nesheim, Korbinian, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Richardson, Matthew H, Mercure, Micael Batista, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentino, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Mike T, Mikkel Kragh, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nick Humphries, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Bartlett, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Alvarez, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , Sylvus , szigyi, Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tom Wilson, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tony, Tschäff Reisberg, Ui, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Youri Hubaut, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Hoy9Kn1u0
What if nuclear reactor but… small? And many? Let’s talk SMRs. Over to Tristan…
Tristan: @TristanSharman
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tristansharman.bsky.social
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
REFERENCES
1. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/electricity-prod-source-stacked?stackMode=relative
2. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-electricity-nuclear
3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20190725-will-we-ever-know-chernobyls-true-death-toll
4. https://www.iaea.org/topics/chornobyl/faqs
5. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accident
6. https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle
7. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/death-rates-from-energy-production-per-twh
8. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-waste/radioactive-wastes-myths-and-realities
9. https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/09/in-finland-the-worlds-first-facility-to-bury-nuclear-waste-is-set-to-begin-operations
10. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/energy-and-the-environment/carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-electricity
11. https://www.energydashboard.co.uk/live
12. https://ourworldindata.org/cheap-renewables-growth
13. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/20/hinkley-point-c-delayed-to-2030-as-costs-climb-to-35bn
14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_small_modular_reactor_designs
15. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/small-modular-reactors_18fbb76c-en.html
16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17777943/
17. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste/
18. https://www.navylookout.com/the-evolution-of-uk-nuclear-submarine-reactors-and-rolls-royces-central-role/
19. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-power-reactors/small-modular-reactors/small-modular-reactor-smr-global-tracker
20. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/russias-floating-nuclear-power-plant-passes-one-billion-kwh
21. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Chinese-HTR-PM-Demo-begins-commercial-operation
22. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-policy-statement-for-nuclear-energy-generation-en-7
23. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rolls-royce-smr-selected-to-build-small-modular-nuclear-reactors
24. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032124004696
25. https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/press-releases/2025/15-09-2025-rr-welcomes-action-from-uk-and-us-governments-to-usher-in-new-golden-age-of-nuclear-energy.aspx
26. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-nuclear-small-modular-reactor-net-carbon-zero
27. https://blog.google/company-news/outreach-and-initiatives/sustainability/google-kairos-power-nuclear-energy-agreement/
28. https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-and-ai/energy-supply-for-ai
29. https://hannahritchie.substack.com/p/net-zero-delay
30. https://climateactiontracker.org/global/emissions-pathways/
———- 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, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Artem Plotnikov, Ben Curtis, David TLR, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, TheKeeperOfPie, Tom Oldfield.
Adam Gillard, Adam Pazderka, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Hartley, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, Atkinson , AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bastian Pranzas, Ben Blower, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Andersson, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Dom, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Gabriele Siino, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, Ian Hamilton, idris, j, Jack Fretwell, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, Jekel’s Climate Channel, Joachim Murat, John, Josef Probst, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, Knut Nesheim, Korbinian, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Richardson, Matthew H, Mercure, Micael Batista, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentino, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Mike T, Mikkel Kragh, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nick Humphries, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Bartlett, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Alvarez, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , Sylvus , szigyi, Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tom Wilson, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tony, Tschäff Reisberg, Ui, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Youri Hubaut, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9evj–EOL1Q
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 SIMON6 will get the first month paid for by me: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/join/6
If you want to get to know them better first, check out their mission restoring Australia’s lost ecosystems: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/m40/6
REFERENCES
1. https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/fossil-fuel-emissions-have-rapidly-worsened-european-heatwaves-in-just-a-few-decades/
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3vyz6w5z0zo
3. https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/a-well-adapted-uk/
4. https://howtoliveonearth.net/
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:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Artem Plotnikov, Ben Curtis, David TLR, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid, TheKeeperOfPie, Tom Oldfield.
Adam Gillard, Adam Pazderka, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Hartley, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bastian Pranzas, Ben Blower, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Andersson, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dom, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Gabriele Siino, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, Ian Hamilton, idris, j, Jack Fretwell, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, Joachim Murat, John, Josef Probst, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Korbinian, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Richardson, Matthew H, Mercure, Micael Batista, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentino, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Mike T, Mikkel Kragh, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nick Humphries, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Bartlett, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Alvarez, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tom Wilson, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tony, Tschäff Reisberg, Ui, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Youri Hubaut, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0axMyGj7tc
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