Our minds and emotions have to deal with many issues when reading today’s news: the war in Ukraine, the famine in Sudan, natural disasters from Australia to Japan, the latest variants of the pandemic, drug trafficking and women, rising oil prices and life, Prime Minister Boris Boris Johnson’s political antics and, of course, trivial things like Kim Kardashian’s romantic dinner and Brooklyn Beckham’s wardrobe.
There’s a lot to deal with. But sometimes the big ball Greta Thunberg throws at us, one of the climate disasters, seems to be rolling away. If we stop paying attention, it can quickly become out of reach.
due to United Nations says The global shift to a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst impacts of climate change, and reducing or at least cutting back on meat, eggs and dairy is one simple action everyone can take right now to help.
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If governments are serious about reducing human reliance on animal-sourced foods that pollute the planet, they should be taxed heavily, just like cigarettes, gasoline, and diesel.
So how much do people need to reduce? A recent analysis of the environmental impact of the food system found that massive reductions in meat, eggs and dairy consumption—including 90 percent cuts in beef and 60 percent in animal milk in Western countries—are critical to avoiding dangerous climate change.
Globally, the average person needs to eat 75% less beef, 90% less pork and half as many eggs. In fact, meat production has such a devastating impact on every aspect of our environment that the Union of Concerned Scientists ranks meat eating as the second most serious environmental hazard facing the planet.
Livestock farming is not sustainable. When land is used to raise animals instead of crops, precious water and soil are lost, trees are felled to clear sheds on grazing or factory farms, and untreated animal waste can pollute rivers and streams.
It is 18 times more efficient to produce plant-based chicken alternatives than broiler chickens. Thankfully, there’s a wide variety of healthy, eco- and animal-friendly vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes.
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A recent study by the University of Oxford found that eliminating animal products could reduce a person’s food-related carbon footprint by 73%, and that global farmland could be reduced by 75% if everyone became vegetarian. All of this is in addition to their healthy personal benefit – reducing their risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer.
The link between climate change and livestock farming has been widely documented, showing that at nearly every stage of meat, egg and milk production, climate-changing gases are released into the atmosphere, potentially disrupting weather patterns and ecosystems.
According to the United Nations, livestock is responsible for nearly one-fifth of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
We all have the power to change this and help protect the planet by reducing the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change from our diets by up to 60% – just by avoiding animal-sourced foods.
With all the delicious vegetarian options widely available in supermarkets and restaurants across the country, there’s no reason to keep eating foods made with animal ingredients. It’s like throwing gasoline on a raging fire. PETA is ready to provide anyone and everyone with resources, encouragement and tips to help them transition to a vegan lifestyle.
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Ingrid Newkirk is the founder of PETA.
