Name: Mushrooms.

Approximately 810 million years old.

Appearance: Disappearing.

Are we truly responsible for the near-extinction of fungi? Is this truly the apocalypse for all living things on our planet? Hold on, I haven’t finished speaking.

Apologies, please continue. Mushrooms are no longer being offered on National Trust menus.

That is significantly less intimidating. Just a moment, you still haven’t allowed me to complete my sentence.

I apologize, please continue. Mushrooms are no longer included in National Trust menus due to the environmental impact of their cultivation.

I’m feeling very unsure. How much should I be worrying? To be honest, only a little bit of worrying would be appropriate. The National Trust has taken mushrooms off their menus due to demands for a boycott of mushrooms grown in peat.

2

Why is this the case? It is because peat is obtained from bogs, which play a crucial role in sequestering carbon. If peat is removed from bogs, it leads to the release of CO2.₂

Around 31 million tonnes of it have been released into the atmosphere since 1990, according to reports.

This issue appears to have a simple solution. We must switch to consuming mushrooms that were not cultivated in peat. However, it is important to note that the majority of mushrooms being sold in the UK are currently grown in peat.

Is purchasing commercially cultivated mushrooms a deliberate act of contributing to the planet’s destruction? Yes, to some extent.

2 is a lot

What’s the matter? That’s a significant amount of 31 million tonnes of CO2.₂

The statement “since 1990” carries negative connotations. However, considering that 1990 was 34 years in the past, the equivalent yearly amount is less than one million tonnes.

This amount is still significant! However, when compared to the meat and dairy sector, which generates 7.1 gigatons of CO2 annually, it becomes clear which foods have the greatest negative impact on the environment.

Can you compare this to when people criticized me for buying almond milk? Well, that’s not the same. Almond milk has the least amount of greenhouse emissions compared to other non-dairy alternatives, but it does use a large amount of water to produce, so others still have the right to disapprove when you order it.

Is it not good? It is not as bad as drinking a pint of cow’s milk. Keep in mind the impact of meat and dairy. In comparison, anything else is better.

It appears that the National Trust has eliminated meat and dairy from their menus. However, some of their websites still mention the availability of sausage rolls, contradicting this claim.

This situation raises moral concerns! Should I consume mushrooms or abstain? In comparison, consuming a mushroom grown in peat has less negative impact on the environment than consuming a large, juicy steak. However, it should be noted that consuming either still contributes to the decline of our planet. Does this provide clarification?

Absolutely not. Incredible. Fantastic conversation.

It is advised to avoid the use of peat-grown mushrooms as they can negatively impact the environment.

Please don’t mention: “I should make sure to update the menu for my personal jet.”

Source: theguardian.com