History of the Quad, the appetite for plant-based food and climate change creates a new C-level job
February 2022
Hello and welcome!đ
The shortest month of the year has come and gone. February ends with Europe bracing for what could be the continentâs worst conflict since the Yugoslav Wars.
Deep Dive will be tracking the news as events unfold. In the meantime, this edition will explore the role of a loose security alliance known as the Quad, the boom in advertising of plant-based foods, and how city authorities are responding to the climate crisis.
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UNDERSTANDING THE QUAD
Russiaâs military incursion into Ukraine is keeping the USâs top diplomat extremely busy. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also closely watching geopolitical developments much further east.
On 11 February, Blinken met his Australian, Indian and Japanese counterparts in Melbourne for a ministerial gathering of the Quad. Their joint statement once again highlighted the value of rules-based international order, and stressed the groupâs opposition to âcoercive economic policies and practices that run counter to this systemâ.
For many, the reaction to those words was: More criticism of China couched in diplo-speak, so what? However, the Quad - or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to use its official name - is a unique coalition for numerous reasons.
To recap: The informal alliance was initiated by Japan in 2007 following stronger maritime cooperation between the four nations in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami. The aim was to promote a democratic and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
But CCP leaders were irked by what they perceived was an attempt to limit Chinaâs influence. Beijingâs anger over the Quad eventually prompted Australia to abandon the project a year later. Additionally India, famously non-aligned during the Cold War, was reluctant to antagonise its neighbour.
Fast forward to 2017 where China, under President Xi Jinping, has emerged as an assertive player on the world stage (see: Belt and Road Initiative and South China Sea disputes). At the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in November, Japan extended a second invite to the US, India and Australia to revive the Quad.
Even so, it took the pandemic for the members of the Quad to properly unify. The US, Japan, India and Australia banded together to boost the availability of Covid-19 vaccines. Furthermore, the four heads of government discussed sharing technical skills and logistics, which added weight to Washingtonâs argument that the Quad serves a purpose beyond the Middle Kingdom. Indeed, China is rarely mentioned directly.
Nonetheless, Beijing remains suspicious and annoyed. State media outlet Global Times has published various opinion pieces on the âsinister gang of Indo-Pacificâ and accuses President Biden of wanting âto rope in all liberal capitalist countries to shore up America's declining powerâ.
For the moment, the Quadâs key goals are largely undefined and there are no NATO-style security commitments. But with the dawn of the âAsian Centuryâ, the coalition could gain greater prominence.
ALT-MEAT GOES MAINSTREAM
While thereâs been loud chatter about the volume of crypto commercials during the Super Bowl broadcast, itâs important to note that ads for vegan and plant-based foods are skyrocketing as well.
These campaigns are increasingly dominating billboards, bus stops, social media and TV spots. Why? The global plant-based alternatives market is forecast to surge to US$162 billion by 2030, according to Bloomberg Intelligence Research. For reference, the industry was worth US$29.4 billion in 2020.
A range of brands, including KFC, McDonalds, Pret A Manger and Lindt, are jumping on the alt-meat/alt-dairy bandwagon as consumers reassess their eating habits. Healthier diets and worries about the carbon footprint of meat production are commonly cited as deciding factors.
On the corporate front, pushing out plant-based or vegan items allows brands to enhance their âgreenâ credentials. Plus, there seems to be investor demand for companies in this sector. Beyond Meat went public in 2019, Oatly listed on the Nasdaq in May 2021, and Impossible Foods is rumoured to be planning an IPO this year.
The new generation of plant-based meats isnât without controversy, though. Some nutritionists say these types of foods, designed to mimic the taste, texture and smell of animal products, are âultra-processedâ and packed with salt. Their point is that it would be better to eat tofu and bean patties instead of vegan substitutes for (or 3D-printed) beef, for instance.
DEDICATED âHEATâ EXECUTIVES
With climate change firmly on national as well as global agendas, some cities are taking proactive steps and appointing âchief heat officersâ.
Miami-Dade County in Florida led the charge, selecting Jane Gilbert for the first-of-its-kind position in May 2021. Her job is to raise awareness about increased heat and recommend strategies to reduce the risks related to this phenomenon.
Other metropolises have since followed suit. There are now dedicated executives in Los Angeles and Phoenix in the US, Athens in Greece, and the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown.
Their objectives are broadly the same: protect residents from soaring temperatures; coordinate across communities and government entities; command resources for interventions; review urban planning, particularly coastal projects; and harness data to expand early warning systems.
Environmental scientists describe intense heat as âa silent killerâ or âan invisible hazardâ because the destructive effects are not as visible as hurricanes, flooding or earthquakes. They urge policymakers to pay attention to its impacts, especially as the Northern hemisphere prepares for summer. If the mercury hits record highs, expect several local authorities to recruit their own chief heat officers.
Catch you in March! Take care and stay curious, Sara x