We must remember that leather and wool are also important economic by-products of animal food.
So both residents and governments of countries like the UK need to take action.
As a lifelong resident of a wealthy ex-colonial country, I benefit every day from historical and ongoing injustice. We take many of these benefits for granted, such as the wide availability of food.
Unless our production and consumption habits change, animal husbandry will soon become Significantly increase the share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
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We have less than 7 years Left to make sweeping changes to avoid a rise of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. If we all have a chance of surviving the climate crisis, we have to “go all in”.
The core responsibility lies with the world’s largest emitter. But we can no longer ignore our consumer behavior in the global north.
The widest shoulder should carry the heaviest load, a principle recently reflected Scottish government.
As residents of the global North, we have a responsibility to take responsibility for our harmful actions, but to act for the good of the world. Being vegetarian is not a “climate panacea”. But it can help us address our unsustainable consumption footprint.
A global shift from current meat- and dairy-centric diets to diets free of animal products would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions across all economic sectors by 28%, based on Learning in 2019.
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A major study covering 140 countries found that, switch to vegan food A person’s diet-related greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by an average of 70%.
Unsustainable and inefficient land use is another consequence of our demand for animal products. Switching to a vegan diet significantly reduces the amount of land needed to produce food.
This reduces pressure on our ecosystems, giving us a better chance of slowing and halting the decline of biodiversity.
The UK government needs to be more proactive in reducing the barriers people face when becoming vegan.
Many Britons voluntarily become vegan, mostly for ethical reasons, but more government support is needed to encourage planet-friendly consumption.
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The Vegan Society has addressed these barriers before On the eve of last year’s UN Climate Change Conference COP26.
Solutions include:
(1) Ensure that at least one nutritionally balanced plant-based dietary option is available on all public sector menus.
(2) Improve access to plant-based foods by supporting the establishment of new plant-based businesses, such as through tax breaks to support start-ups and entrepreneurs.
(3) Conduct advocacy campaigns on the climate impacts of dietary choices.
(4) Link climate change to public health and promote the environmental and health benefits of a variety of plant-based diets rich in legumes, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
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Need more support. However, we can help you get started now. Vegan Society reboots’prepare for earth‘ The campaign provides environmentally conscious people with the support and information resources they need to make the transition to veganism.
There are important moral parallels in the logic that underpins vegetarianism and environmentalism: Humans must learn to live with nature rather than bend the world to our will regardless of the consequences.
Nature doesn’t just exist to meet our needs. The world can feed us all if we are not selfish, overexploited and overconsumed.
We must remain within our fairness so that we can repair the historical and ongoing harm of all people and non-human animals with whom we share the planet.
It’s time for the Global North to get our house in order and take responsibility for ourselves. It’s time to reflect on our personal consumption footprint. Time to go vegetarian.
this author
Alexander Huntley is a research assistant at the Vegetarian Society. He is a graduate of SOAS University, London with an MA in Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice. He is a passionate human and animal rights advocate.
