What’s on your plate can save the planet

The food we eat has a massive impact on our planet. Ranching occupies more than 77 percent of agricultural land, causes deforestation, destroys other ecosystems, and generates more than 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from our food systems. All this, while providing only 17 percent of the global caloric need.

Clearly, humanity needs to transition from meat and dairy to a plant-based food system.

Additionally, researchers at the University of Oxford suggest that cutting meat and dairy from your diet could reduce your carbon footprint. The study says that a vegan diet could be the best way to reduce the environmental impact on the planet. A vegan diet means less air pollution, less water consumption, and naturally fewer animals dying. There is no doubt that this type of lifestyle has a host of environmental benefits. Raising animals for food requires enormous amounts of land, water, feed, and energy. Needless to mention, the by-products of animal agriculture pollute the air and water we drink.

With the world’s population increasing and the growing appetite for meat around the world, the environmental reasons to go vegan they are becoming more and more vital. Let’s examine them one by one.

Also read:PBFIA calls on restaurants in big cities to introduce a vegan menu

Reduces the emission of greenhouse gases

Meat production involves 3 main gases that contribute to global warming: carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. While carbon dioxide is known to be the main culprit in global warming, methane has a significant warming effect. While the latter may not stay long enough in the atmosphere as CO2, it is more powerful and absorbs more heat.

Nitrous oxide, another greenhouse gas released as a result of animal husbandry, is 300 times more powerful at trapping heat than CO2. 65 percent of the world’s population Nitrous oxide emissions are attributed to the meat, dairy, and egg industries.

A switch to a plant-based diet means you’ll stop contributing to these important emissions.

Also read:Celebrities support vegan campaign

you save water

By being vegan, you save water which is scarce in many parts of the world. While many lack access to clean drinking water, agriculture uses 70 percent of the world’s fresh water, and ranching uses more fresh water than anything else.

In addition, livestock are one of the main polluters of fresh water. High doses of fertilizers, chemicals, and antibiotics used to raise animals are released into nearby water and lakes, threatening the safety of drinking water and other species that live in those areas.

Also read: Protection of groundwater through safe sanitation

Help endangered species survive

As increasing amounts of tropical forests are cleared to raise and graze animals, its inhabitants find it difficult to survive.

Wild animals are squeezed into smaller habitats where it is difficult for them to survive. Also, as their habitat is being taken over by agriculture, they are forced into contact with humans, increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases and human-wildlife conflicts.

Also read:Empathy for animals is the main reason people go vegan: Survey

Help re-stabilize the ocean ecosystem

While we are aware of the serious threat of plastic pollution, ocean acidification is far more deadly.

Ocean acidification caused by increased absorption of carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere makes it difficult for creatures like coral reefs, mollusks, and crustaceans to grow and reproduce.

A switch to a vegan diet can help reduce the amount of agricultural carbon pumped into the atmosphere and help ocean ecosystems re-stabilize.

Simply put, a plant-based diet is the only solution if we want to save our planet. Otherwise, we as a species and our planet Earth could be in serious trouble. Instead, if we all learn to eat wisely, we will be healthier and kinder.