Jeffrey Salazar
A plant-based diet is widely considered to be better for the environment than diets that include animal products. Research shows that meat and dairy products contribute significantly to the climate crisis, whereas plant-based diets that focus on fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans help protect the planet. A shift to plant-based diets has the potential to reduce carbon footprints and mitigate climate change, as well as improve human health. However, not all plant-based foods have a small environmental footprint, and it is important to consider the impact of specific food choices within a plant-based diet.
What You'll Learn
Plant-based diets reduce carbon emissions and waste byproducts
The vegan diet is widely regarded as being better for the planet than diets that include animal products. Research shows that meat and dairy products are fuelling the climate crisis, while plant-based diets—focused on fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans—help protect the planet.
According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, "Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change", shifting diets from meat and other animal products to plant-based diets have a high potential for reducing carbon footprints and mitigating climate change. The report states that a shift to plant-based diets rich in pulses, nuts, fruits, and vegetables could lead to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to current dietary patterns in most industrialized countries.
Animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with meat and dairy products causing significantly more emissions than plant-based foods. Beef, lamb, and mutton are the worst offenders, while plant-based food products such as wheat, bananas, potatoes, and nuts cause only a fraction of the emissions. Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than all transportation emissions combined.
In addition to reducing emissions, plant-based diets also help reduce water use. Animal husbandry utilizes more than 50% of freshwater, and producing one pound of beef requires 1,847 gallons of water, while producing one pound of vegetables requires only 39 gallons. By shifting to plant-based diets, we can significantly reduce our water consumption.
The benefits of plant-based diets go beyond just reducing emissions and water use. Plant-based diets also help reduce waste byproducts that end up in our oceans and as seafood byproducts. A study by Jalava et al. in 2014 found that shifting away from animal-based foods could add up to 49% to the global food supply without expanding croplands. This means that we can produce more food while reducing the environmental impact of food production.
Furthermore, plant-based diets can also improve human health. The United Nations report states that co-benefits of plant-based diets include lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and reducing mortality from diet-related non-communicable diseases. Plant-based diets that are higher in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, and tea/coffee are associated with reduced chronic disease risk.
While it is important to consider the environmental impact of all our food choices, including plant-based foods, the evidence suggests that plant-based diets can play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and waste byproducts, while also improving human health and mitigating climate change.
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Vegan diets cut environmental damage by 75%
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Meat and dairy are harmful in terms of land use
Animal agriculture is a major driver of land use change, with meat and dairy being particularly harmful. Animal agriculture is responsible for over 80% of Amazon deforestation, with millions of acres of rainforest destroyed for cattle ranching. This has a devastating impact on biodiversity, with forests being the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
Meat and dairy also use a disproportionate amount of farmland, accounting for 83% of the world's farmland, while only providing 18% of the world's calories. This makes animal agriculture highly inefficient in terms of land use, with a far lower calorie yield per acre compared to plant-based agriculture.
The heavy toll of meat and dairy production on land resources is further exacerbated by the water-intensive nature of these industries. Producing one pound of beef requires 1,847 gallons of water, while the same amount of vegetables requires only 39 gallons. Animal agriculture is a water-guzzling industry, consuming 55% of the water in the United States, far surpassing the 5% used by private homes.
The environmental impact of meat and dairy is not limited to land and water use. Animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 18% of global emissions, more than all transportation emissions combined. Cattle, in particular, produce large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through their normal digestive process.
The inefficiency of meat and dairy production is further highlighted by the fact that even the lowest-impact meat, organic pork, is responsible for eight times more climate damage than the highest-impact plant, oilseed. This disparity underscores the environmental benefits of shifting towards plant-based diets.
In addition to the direct environmental impacts, meat and dairy production also have indirect effects on land use. The feed required for livestock places pressure on croplands, with animal husbandry creating as much carbon emission as the entire transportation sector annually. This competition for croplands can lead to indirect land use change, such as the conversion of natural habitats into agricultural land, further exacerbating biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption.
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Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions
Animal agriculture is a major producer of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing around 14.5% of global emissions—a figure comparable to the transport sector. This figure is expected to increase as the global population and appetite for meat grows, particularly in China and other Asian countries.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, livestock production accounted for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2013. While this estimate is based on data from 2004 and 2005, it is still widely cited. More recent data suggests that the true figure may be higher or lower than this estimate. Peer-reviewed studies have put the figure at up to 19.6% of emissions.
The heavy impact of meat and dairy on the planet is well-known, and people in wealthy nations will need to significantly reduce their meat consumption to address the climate crisis. Livestock, particularly cows and other ruminants, are the number one agricultural source of greenhouse gases worldwide. Each year, a single cow will belch about 220 pounds of methane—a greenhouse gas with 28 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide.
The production of meat and dairy products requires a significant amount of water. Pound-for-pound, animal-sourced foods use much more water and carbon to produce than plant-based foods. For example, it takes between 2000 and 8000 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef, whereas producing a pound of tofu requires only 302 gallons of water.
By shifting away from animal-based foods, we could increase the global food supply by up to 49% without expanding croplands. Additionally, reducing our consumption of animal products would significantly reduce carbon emissions and waste byproducts that end up in our oceans.
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Plant-based diets improve human health
Plant-based diets have been proven to have a positive impact on human health. Research has shown that plant-based diets can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Additionally, plant-based diets have been linked to improved cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart health.
A study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that participants who consumed healthy plant-based diets had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The study also reinforced that diets higher in animal-based foods, especially red and processed meat, have greater adverse environmental impacts than plant-based diets.
Plant-based diets are also associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases. Diets that are rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, and tea/coffee are linked to improved health outcomes. For example, plant-based diets can help prevent type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
The health benefits of plant-based diets are not limited to physical health. Vegan and plant-based diets have been linked to improved energy, mood, and longevity. Many vegan professional athletes have reported improved performance and recovery after switching to a plant-based diet.
In addition to the direct health benefits, plant-based diets also have indirect benefits for human health. By reducing our consumption of animal-based foods, we can help protect the environment, which in turn improves human health. The production of animal-based foods, such as meat and dairy, contributes significantly to water use, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, plant-based diets offer a wide range of health benefits that can improve human health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
A plant-based diet can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Research shows that meat and dairy products are fueling the climate crisis, while plant-based diets help protect the planet. A vegan diet can reduce environmental damage by 75% and water use by 54%.
Shifting to a plant-based diet can help mitigate climate change by reducing carbon footprints. A report from the United Nations Environment Programme states that animal products require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives.
Animal husbandry utilizes more than 50% of freshwater. By reducing our consumption of animal products, we can reduce our water use by at least half.
Animal agriculture is responsible for more than 80% of Amazon deforestation, with millions of acres destroyed for cattle ranching. A plant-based diet can help preserve forests and other habitats.
Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than all transportation emissions combined. A plant-based diet can help reduce these emissions, with even the "greenest" sources of meat producing more greenhouse gases than plant-based proteins.
