Eating for People, Planet, and Animals
I am not a big fan of Halloween. My scare tolerance is zero, my costumes tend to be "too weird" (apparently dressing as a 'carnivore' is a little much), and I really despise all things gory, even fake gory. So, it should not come as a surprise that I decided drink tea and catch up on work instead of join the gathering of characters last conveyed last night. However, this morning I bounced out of bed because today is World Vegan Day!
What is World Vegan Day? It's an international holiday that commemorates that founding of the World Vegan Society in 1994. No meat, no dairy, no eggs, no animal products/testing/derivatives = no problem! As a vegan of nearly six years, I am consistently reminded of my reasons to celebrate each and every day: for people, for the planet, and for the animals. While the benefits to animals are obvious, many people do not realize the degree of human exploitation involved in livestock production. The environmental benefits are also immense, which is what I am going to focus on here.
Consider these facts:
- Transportation accounts for 13% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, livestock account for 18% of global emissions
- Livestock account for 65% of nitrous oxide emissions (global warming potential (GWP) 296 times that of carbon dioxide)
- Livestock account for 35-40% of methane emissions (GWP 23 times carbon dioxide)
- Livestock consume immense amounts of water directly and indirectly (required to produce the crops to feed them, etc); agricultural activities are responsible for impairing 38% of US rivers and streams and 16% of lakes
- Fossil fuels are required at every step of the livestock production process, especially growing the corn and soy that comprise the majority of cow, pig, and chicken diets in the United States
Looking to decrease this? I have your solution!
I wrote my thesis on the environmental impacts of the US livestock industry last year, which allowed me to become well versed on the topic. It takes 16 pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat. Add water, land, antibiotics, destroyed ecosystems, and contribution to climate change and a hamburger suddenly looks very unappetizing. As developing countries begin to adopt the consumption habits of the western world, world hunger will undoubtedly increase. We can already see it happening.
I am honestly shocked that there are so few vegans in the world when the number of environmentalists is growing. For anyone looking to decrease their environmental footprint, giving up animal products just one day a week will have a larger impact than purchasing a Prius and I can guarantee that it is much cheaper. If the world continues to adopt a meat, egg, and dairy focused diet, health problems and environmental degradation will increase. World hunger will continue to plague the planet as grain, vegetables, and water are fed to animals instead of people.
Eating low on the food chain is smart and it does not have to be a chore. I can count the amount of commonly consumed animal products on my ten fingers, but the number of grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds that I eat? Dozens and dozens and dozens. Let's not forget vegan cupcakes and cookies, which are 100% cholesterol free and twice as delicious than their conventional counterparts!
References (just to prove that I am not making this up!):
H. Steinfeld, P. Gerber, T. Wassenaar, V. Castel, M. Rosales, and C. de Haan. Livestock's Long Shadow:
Environmental Issues and Options. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/LEAD
(2006). http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.HTM
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report.” United Nations
Environmental Programme (2007). http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-syr.htm
United States Environmental Protection Agency. “National Water Quality Inventory: Report to
Congress, 2004 Reporting Cycle.” EPA 841-R-08-001 (2009). http://www.epa.gov/owow/305b/2004report/
love it