Vegan Diets: Saving Earth, One Bite At A Time

A vegan diet is a plant-based diet that excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. In recent years, veganism has gained popularity, with a 300% increase in vegans in the UK between 2014 and 2019. One of the primary motivations for adopting a vegan lifestyle is the potential environmental benefits. Research suggests that a vegan diet can positively impact the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving water and land, and saving lives.

A vegan diet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions

A vegan diet can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Research shows that meat and dairy production fuels the climate crisis, while plant-based diets—focused on fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans—help protect the planet.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, shifting diets from meat and other animal products to plant-based alternatives has 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 a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to current dietary patterns in most industrialized countries.

The Lancet published a report in 2019 that concluded a dietary shift towards plant foods and away from animal products is vital for promoting the health of our planet. The report states that vegan and vegetarian diets are associated with the greatest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Reducing methane emissions

Cattle produce methane as part of their normal digestive process, called enteric fermentation. When cows burp, methane is released into the atmosphere. Methane is also produced when animal manure is stored or managed in lagoons or holding tanks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Swapping beef for beans could help countries reach their targeted greenhouse gas emission reductions. For example, one study found that legume substitution could account for 46-74% of the required reductions in the United States.

Reducing emissions from food production

A global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gases caused by food production by as much as 70% by 2050. A report from the United Nations Environment Programme states that animal products, both meat and dairy, generally require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives.

Reducing emissions and preserving land

Animal agriculture uses resources inefficiently. The Lancet report found that almost two-thirds of all soybeans, maize, barley, and about a third of all grains are used as feed for animals. The report also found that agriculture occupies 40% of Earth's ice-free landmass, noting that animal products have a large environmental footprint on our croplands. Another study projected that if Americans ate more beans and less beef, 42% of cropland could be freed up.

It can also preserve water

Agriculture is the world's largest water-consuming sector, accounting for about 70% of freshwater use. Meat and dairy products are the leaders in agricultural water use.

The water footprint of meat is significantly larger than that of plant-based foods. For example, producing just one pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water, the equivalent of about 100 showers for the average American. In contrast, it takes 74 litres of water to make a single glass of almond milk, and 54 litres of water to make a glass of rice milk. While these numbers are high compared to other plant-based milk alternatives, they are still much lower than the water required for dairy milk.

If the United States were to cut animal product consumption in half, for example, food production would require 37% less water. This reduction in water usage would be equivalent to the amount of water used in about 370,000,000 showers.

A global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gases caused by food production by 70% by 2050. This would not only benefit the planet but also human health, as a plant-based diet has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

It can save lives

A vegan diet can save lives in a multitude of ways. Firstly, by reducing the risk of certain diseases. Research has shown that a plant-based diet can lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. For example, one study found that men who followed a vegan diet had a 35% lower risk of prostate cancer. This is due to the anti-inflammatory nature of a vegan diet, which reduces inflammation linked to these diseases.

Secondly, a vegan diet can help to alleviate hunger on a global scale. Animal agriculture is an inefficient use of resources, with a large proportion of crops being used to feed animals. The Lancet report found that over 820 million people worldwide are food insecure, and that two-thirds of soybeans and a third of all grains are used as animal feed. Therefore, by reducing animal product consumption, more food will be available for humans, and fewer people will go hungry.

Thirdly, a vegan diet can reduce the environmental impact of food production, which in turn saves lives. Food production is responsible for up to 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with animal agriculture being the leading cause. By switching to plant-based foods, we can significantly reduce these emissions, as well as the amount of water and land needed for agriculture. This will help to mitigate climate change, which is already affecting the lives of many people, particularly in the Global South.

Finally, a vegan diet can reduce the risk of mortality from diet-related non-communicable diseases. The Climate Change 2022 report states that a shift to a plant-based diet could reduce mortality by 10% by 2050. This is likely due to the reduced risk of developing chronic diseases, as mentioned previously.

Overall, a vegan diet has the potential to save lives by improving human health, reducing environmental impacts, and ensuring food security.

It can reduce agricultural land use

A vegan diet can help reduce agricultural land use in several ways. Firstly, animal products have a large environmental footprint on croplands. A significant amount of land is needed to grow food for livestock, such as soybeans, maize, barley, and grains. This land could be used much more efficiently if it were used to grow food for direct human consumption. For example, a 2017 study projected that if Americans ate more beans and less beef, they could free up 42% of their cropland.

Secondly, agriculture accounts for about 70% of freshwater use, with meat and dairy products leading the way in agricultural water use. Producing just one pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water. If less water was needed for agricultural use, more land could be freed up for other purposes. For instance, if the United States cut animal product consumption in half, their food production would require 37% less water.

Thirdly, a global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce mortality and greenhouse gases caused by food production by 10% and 70% respectively by 2050. This would mean that less land would need to be dedicated to agriculture overall, as plant-based diets are much less resource-intensive than diets containing animal products.

Finally, a shift to plant-based diets could also reduce the amount of land used for grazing livestock. Cattle grazing generates massive amounts of methane and carbon dioxide, both of which are potent greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. By reducing the number of cattle being farmed, the amount of land needed for grazing would also be reduced.

It can alleviate hunger

Animal agriculture uses resources inefficiently. A report published in The Lancet found that more than 820 million people around the world lack sufficient food. It also noted that almost two-thirds of all soybeans, maize, and barley, and about one-third of all grains are used as feed for animals. The inefficiency of animal agriculture is further highlighted by the fact that producing just one pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water, the equivalent of about 100 showers for the average American.

The Lancet report also found that unhealthy diets are the largest global burden of disease, surpassing tobacco use as the leading cause of death and disease worldwide. This is due in large part to the fact that animal agriculture is an inefficient use of resources, diverting crops that could be used to feed humans and using excessive amounts of water.

By contrast, a vegan diet is based on plant foods—fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds. Research shows 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. For example, one study found that swapping beef for beans could help the United States reach its targeted greenhouse gas emission reductions.

A global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce mortality and greenhouse gases caused by food production by 10% and 70% respectively by 2050. This would be a significant step towards mitigating climate change and improving human health. Additionally, a vegan diet can provide all the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy life.

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