Veganism’s Environmental Benefits
Have you ever considered how a plant-based diet can assist in the fight against global warming? Many studies show human activity is the largest contributor to the problem; to reduce it, we often do small daily tasks like taking the bus or walking to campus instead of driving; however, switching to a vegan diet is a completely different way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and even protect habitats and species.
Emissions of greenhouse gases are being reduced (GHGs)
Carbon dioxide is a major pollutant that contributes to global warming by contributing to the greenhouse effect, which puts our ecosystem under extreme stress and harm. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock production accounts for 14.5 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Worldwatch Institute, its contribution to GHG emissions could be as high as 51%. Approximately 37% of these GHG emissions come from animal dung, which produces methane, a gas that heats the globe nearly 20 times quicker than carbon dioxide.
Other agricultural emissions occur from the preparation of land for livestock, transportation, and the production of crops to feed the animals, which produces nitrous oxide, another hazardous gas.
This demonstrates that the production of meat consumes a lot of energy and produces more greenhouse gas emissions than growing and eating vegetables and fruits. According to a study conducted in the United States, switching to a plant-based diet can save 1.5 tons of CO2 per year! (Pike)
Water Conservation
Unlike most plant-based diets, livestock requires a large amount of fresh water to survive, which is an issue, particularly in locations where water is scarce. Animals require a large amount of fresh water to drink, as well as to wash and clean their living areas and themselves. Furthermore, according to Stanford Magazine (2010), generating a pound of animal protein uses 100 times the amount of water as producing a pound of grain protein! Water is also used extensively in the production and preparation of dairy products for human consumption. According to the Water Footprint Network, producing one gallon of milk requires about 1,000 gallons of water!
Habitat and Species Conservation
Animal agriculture is the leading cause of environmental destruction and extinction. Approximately 3.1 billion hectares are used for meat and dairy production around the world. This means that massive deforestation and desertification will occur to make this area available, a process that occurs when cattle grazing destroys natural flora and causes soil erosion. This not only adds to the demise of creatures like red pandas and sloths, but it also means that the trees and plants that once stored carbon dioxide are no longer extant.
A Final Word
Producing plant-based foods uses significantly less energy and resources than producing animal products. Veganism is just one example of a lifestyle modification that can help lessen the human contribution to global warming. Even if you don't want to eliminate meat from your diet, cutting back on one or two meaty meals each week can make a major difference! Meatless Mondays can help the environment because an animal-based diet creates 7 times more GHG emissions than a plant-based diet.
Sources
magazine, STANFORD. “Can Vegetarianism Save the World? Nitty-Gritty.” STANFORD Magazine, Jan/Feb 2010, stanfordmag.org/contents/can-vegetarianism-save-the-world-nitty-gritty.
Pike, Lili. “Why We Need Policies to Reduce Meat Consumption Now.” Vox, Vox, 17 Nov. 2020, www.vox.com/21562639/climate-change-plant-based-diets-science-meat-dairy.
