Why Jains Are Natural Environmentalists

Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided text from "Why Jains Are Natural Environmentalists" by Sudhanshu Jain:

The book argues that Jain fundamental tenets naturally lead followers to have a significantly lower environmental impact than the average North American, even without intentional environmental activism. Jains inherently possess smaller carbon footprints, use less water, and engage in less cruelty due to their core beliefs.

The author highlights two key Jain tenets as crucial for a sustainable future: Ahimsa (non-violence) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).

The text provides strong statistical evidence for the environmental impact of food choices, particularly concerning beef versus plant-based alternatives:

• Water Usage: Producing one pound of beef requires 1848 gallons of water, while one pound of bread requires only 212 gallons, and one pound of tofu requires 334 gallons.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: One pound of beef contributes 12.3 kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), whereas one kg of tofu contributes only 0.9 kg CO2e.
• The author contrasts these with cheese, which requires 668 gallons of water and contributes 6.1 kg of CO2e per pound.
• Statistics indicate that meat-eaters contribute 50-54% more food-related greenhouse gas emissions than vegetarians and 99-102% more than vegans.

The book references a report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) illustrating full lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from various food proteins and vegetables, reinforcing the significant environmental burden of animal products compared to plant-based options like tofu and beans.

The author then broadens the scope to lifestyle and consumption, citing the unsustainable resource consumption of North Americans:

• If everyone lived like Europeans, it would require three Earths; if everyone lived like North Americans, it would require five Earths.
• North Americans consume more resources through larger homes, bigger cars, and a greater accumulation of "stuff" that requires extensive mining and energy-intensive processing.

The principle of Aparigraha (non-possessiveness) is directly linked to reducing pollution from consumption. The quote, "Live simply so that others may simply live," encapsulates this idea, emphasizing that owning and consuming less, especially disposables, mitigates air, water, and land pollution.

The detrimental environmental impact of gold mining is also detailed:

• Extracting one ounce of gold requires 30 to 100 tons of ore, necessitating the removal of additional earth.
• Toxic substances like cyanide or mercury are used in gold extraction, leading to significant environmental releases and contamination, exemplified by mercury in San Francisco Bay and a large cyanide spill in Romania that affected the Danube River and the Black Sea.
• The author criticizes the Indian obsession with gold for its environmental cost, urging a rejection of gold and diamonds in favor of Aparigraha.

The book concludes with actionable recommendations for readers to adopt more environmentally conscious practices:

• Prioritize the environment over ego in decisions.
• Avoid bottled water and single-use shopping bags.
• Adopt a vegan diet.
• Purchase green electricity.
• Consider electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles for future car purchases.

The author, Sudhanshu Jain, is presented as a former chip designer who retired early to focus on climate change issues.