Canadian environmental scientist Kurtis Baute has said that giving up meat is one of the top things that individuals can do to fight climate change. The self-described “whimsical scientist” recently gained a bit of media fame due to a recent experiment where he locked himself in a plastic-wrapped biodome with more than 200 plants in order to raise awareness about global warming.
Baute, who holds a Masters of Science in environmental science, sealed himself inside the 10-foot-high plastic-wrapped biodome, located in his brother and sister-in-law’s backyard in Comox, BC, last week. He announced the plan on his YouTube channel, ScopeofScience, in late August. By surrounding himself with plants, Baute had hoped that as he breathed out carbon dioxide (CO2), the plants would provide him with all the oxygen he would need to survive. The experiment intended to show the human impact on the environment on a small scale.
“I’m making this video specifically because I think that people need to understand how the environment works at a deeper level,” he said in the video. “I think the environment is super important and I’m willing to put a lot of myself on the line for that.”
Hour zero. I am in a jar. Goodnight! pic.twitter.com/3JLfxEIqyC
— Kurtis Baute (@kurtisbaute) October 24, 2018
Baute originally told Twitter that he expected that he would be able to survive in the plastic bubble for at least three days. During the stay, he would carefully monitor his vitals and the CO2 levels for any changes. However, the BBC reports that Baute was forced to cut the experiment short after just 15 hours. The biodome’s plants had been unable to receive the sunlight needed to photosynthesize oxygen, which led to dangerously high CO2 levels.
Though the experiment did not work out as intended, Baute still considers it to be a success. “All safe. My goal here was/is to engage people about #climatechange, and seeing the response on twitter I feel like it’s been a huge success. Thanks to everyone for your support. Now is just the beginning – it’s time to change our lifestyles,” he wrote on Twitter.
Prior to entering the biodome, Baute had taken to Twitter to discuss human-caused climate change.
I’m free!!!!! #kurtisinajar pic.twitter.com/cYVIoRiv1M
— Kurtis Baute (@kurtisbaute) October 24, 2018
“You can make a real difference here. Right now. Like today. And it isn’t even hard,” he wrote, explaining what individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprint. “#1 eat less meat, it is horribly inefficient and uses tons of fossil fuels. Maybe try giving it up for #MeatlessMonday or go further than that…”
Baute isn’t off in his advice – increasingly, more scientists are at a consensus that reducing meat consumption or adopting a vegan diet is one of the most effective ways to combat global warming. According to the largest-ever food production analysis, which published in the journal Science last June, animal agriculture is a key contributor to a multitude of environmental issues, including global warming, ocean acidification, and land and water usage. The study concluded that a plant-based diet is the “single biggest way to reduce your impact on the Earth.”
Follow Baute on social media for announcements on future experiments.
Image Credit: Kurtis Baute | Instagram
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