Electric cars and plant-based meat: hype or hope? | Hannah Ritchie, PhD

The Proof with Simon Hill

Simon Hill

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Education

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 15 September 2025

⏱️ 126 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah Ritchie, senior researcher at Our World in Data and author of Clearing the Air. We dive into the data behind climate change, exploring what’s driving it, how solutions are developing, and why optimism is not misplaced. Hannah breaks down the role of food, energy, and industry in emissions, explains where media narratives can create “climate whiplash,” and shares why imperfect solutions still move us in the right direction. What We Cover Food, diet, and agricultural emissions Renewable energy vs fossil fuels Electric vehicles and battery concerns Aviation’s role in climate change AI’s growing energy footprint Individual choices vs systemic change This conversation is a reminder that climate change is solvable, and that progress is already underway. You can connect with Hannah Ritchie on Bluesky and through her newsletter, Sustainability by Numbers, or explore her work at hannahritchie.com and Our World in Data. Why We Get Confused About Climate Solutions (00:00:00) The Real Barriers: Cost, Fear, and Trust (00:10:12) Climate Change Impacts on Heat, Health, and Food (00:19:01) Can Plant-Based Diets Meet Nutrition Needs? (00:36:56) Which Food Swaps Most Reduce Emissions? (00:43:02) Is Regenerative Beef Better for the Climate? (00:50:18) Do Plant-Based Meats Help the Environment? (00:57:49) Why We Still Rely on Fossil Fuels (01:04:17) Do Wealthy Countries Owe the World Clean Energy? (01:17:39) AI and Climate: Problem or Solution? (01:24:28) Electric vs Petrol Cars: Which Is Better? (01:29:09) Can Technology Decarbonize Aviation? (01:42:18) Who’s Responsible: Individuals or Government? (01:51:02) Want to support the show? The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also support the show by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and sharing your favourite episodes with friends and family. This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. Function Health Take charge of your health with advanced blood testing and personalised insights. Function Health provides a practical solution to track key health markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and more. For the first 1,000 listeners, new members get a $100 credit when signing up. Head to functionhealth.com/simonhill to claim your credit. Only available to those living in the United States. AirBnB Right in the heart of the city, I’ve been hosting a hands-on Airbnb Experience at Little City Farm that’s all about plant diversity, gut health, and delicious food. For more information, or to find other experiences on your next trip, check out airbnb.com/experiences. Momentous My go-to supplement brand for protein and creatine is Momentous. Use code LIVINGPROOF for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com Bragg Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is raw, unfiltered, and naturally fermented with 100% organic apples, always with the live “Mother” in every bottle. Get 20% off your first order at bragg.com with promo code SIMON. IM8 With 92 nutrients, including Vitamin B12, Iodine, Selenium and Vitamin D, in highly absorbable forms, IM8 Daily Essentials is the perfect all-in-one daily multi-vitamin to ensure you meet your daily micronutrient needs. IM8 is offering an exclusive 10% off your first order with a free welcome kit when you enter the promo code SIMON at checkout on im8health.com Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com Host of The Proof with Simon Hill Author of The Proof is in the Plants Subscribe & Connect: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram: @simonhill Twitter: @theproof Facebook: The Proof with Simon Hill

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today we are constantly bombarded with mixed messages about climate change, from
0:05.5	doomist headlines to industry spin. In this episode, Dr. Hannah Ritchie, the senior
0:11.1	researcher at Our World in Data and author of Clearing the Air, her new book,
0:15.8	joins me to cut through this noise. We explore the real drivers of climate change, the solutions that
0:23.5	are already in play and working, and how to stay grounded in facts rather than fear. Please
0:29.7	enjoy. I recently ran my full labs through function health, and I have to say the results were eye-opening.
0:41.2	Turns out my APOB was higher than ideal, probably thanks to a little too much coconut yogurt.
0:47.8	I also found out I was slightly low in copper, something that I would have never suspected without testing. On the flip side, my biological
0:56.4	age came back 13.3 years younger than my actual age, a calculation based on the work of aging
1:03.6	researcher, Dr. Morgan Levine. So all in all, I've got a few tweaks to make to optimize my lipids
1:09.9	and nutrient status, but overall,
1:12.0	my blood work says I'm doing pretty well. That's what I love about function. You get access
1:16.8	to over 160 biomarkers, covering everything from hormones and inflammation to nutrients,
1:24.6	toxins, cardiovascular risk, and more.
1:27.7	And all your results are housed in one beautiful platform, all tracked over time.
1:32.9	Once you get your results, you can make informed changes before small issues become big ones.
1:38.3	To get started, head to functionhealth.com forward slash Simon Hill.
1:43.3	The first 1,000 people get a $100
1:46.4	credit toward their membership. That's functionhealth.com forward slash Simon Hill.
1:55.3	Howdy friends, I would love your help. You know this, we know this. There are ads on our podcast here at The
2:02.5	Proof. That is what allows us to bring all of these episodes to you at zero cost. We're always
2:09.3	looking for new ways to make this experience better for you. But to do that, we need to know a
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