Did you know that eating a more plant-rich diet is the most effective change an individual can make to help minimize climate change? Research (as reported in The Lancet) has concluded that eating more plants would help:
- Reduce the impacts of climate change. Researchers found that food production is responsible for up to 30 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, with animal products accounting for the vast majority—about three-quarters—of these effects. The report states that projections for the future show that “vegan and vegetarian diets were associated with the greatest reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions.”
- Save water. Agriculture accounts for about 70 percent of freshwater use, making it “the world’s largest water-consuming sector.” Meat and dairy products lead the way in guzzling up large quantities of water. Producing just a pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water.
- Alleviate hunger. The report found that more than 820 million people around the world lack sufficient food. It also noted that “almost two thirds of all soybeans, maize, barley, and about a third of all grains are used as feed for animals.”
Take Action With Meatless Mondays
Join thousands of others committed to enjoying meatless meals every Monday. We have a Meatless Mondays Cookbook with proven recipes that you can try!
What Can We Do About Climate Change?
The rapid pace of climate change has shocked even climate scientists. This summer, Europe has experienced unprecedented heat, drought, fires and floods. China’s lakes and rivers are at all time lows, impacting agriculture. And in the U.S., drought areas are expanding, and major flood events continue to affect lower lying areas. Not surprisingly, these disasters mostly impact the poor among us.
Why Eat a Plant-Based Diet?
Watch a Ted Talk by Dr. Joanne Kong at University of Richmond
Information and Links
- It May Be Uncomfortable, But We Need to Talk About It: The Animal Agriculture Industry and Zero Waste (University of Colorado Boulder)
- Your Diet Is Cooking the Planet (msn news)
- How plant-based diets can help reverse the climate change crisis. (Vox.com)
- Cutting Greenhouse Gases From Food Production Is Urgent, Scientists Say (New York Times)
- Michigan State: Principles and Benefits of CSAs
- How Eating More Plants Can Save Lives and the Planet
- See a presentation from Dave Liker of Gorman Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
- See the presentation from a climate forum UUCC hosted titled “Does What We Eat Matter?“
Video
In this video, The incomparable Jane Goodall describes the links between human behavior, climate crisis and plant-rich diets.
View Jane Goodall video.
Contact: Chris Crandell