Do you know just how much damage the meat on your plate is doing?

We know that global warming is one of the most urgent challenges facing humanity today. There is almost universal scientific consensus that human activities are the main drivers of climate change. It is also well established that one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is animal agriculture.

According to a 2018 report by the United Nations, animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5% of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire transport sector combined. It also uses a large amount of land, water, and energy, and causes deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution.

So, by far the most effective way to reduce your environmental impact and help fight global warming is to adopt a vegan diet. By excluding all animal products, such as meat, dairy, eggs, and honey and switching to a diet with more plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, you can substantially lower your carbon footprint, save water, and protect wildlife.

Just be aware that this is not a binary on / off action. If you can't make the switch to being completely vegan, or even vegetarian, you can still make a significant difference to your carbon footprint and the amount of environmental damage you are responsible for just by cutting the amount of meat and animal products in your diet; and by switching to those meats which have a lower carbon footprint.

Cutting the amount of meat in your diet reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60%, and saves water (it takes 7,500 liters of water to produce just one steak). It can protect land and forests. Animal agriculture occupies about one-third of the Earth's ice-free land, and is a leading cause of deforestation, especially in the Amazon rainforest. Deforestation not only releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but also destroys habitats for millions of animals and plants. 

Finally, reducing meat in your diet is also good for animals. Every year, billions of animals are killed for food, often after living in crowded and cruel conditions. By cutting your meat intake, you can help spare countless animals from pain and death.

Unlike other climate action, which invariably means an initial increase in the volume of carbon emitted which then needs to be paid back over a period of time before any real difference is made, a meat-free or reduced meat diet has an immediate impact with no short-term downsides.