Veganism: Saving The Planet, One Diet At A Time

A vegan diet is widely regarded to be 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. A vegan diet can reduce greenhouse gases, preserve water and land, and save lives.

According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, shifting diets from meat and other animal products to plant-based diets has a high potential for reducing carbon footprints and mitigating climate change. The UN also says that meat and dairy account for 11.2% of manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

However, not all plant-based foods have a small environmental footprint. For example, almonds and avocados are water-intensive crops, and the production and transportation of some fruits can contribute to high carbon emissions.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

A vegan diet can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Research shows that meat and dairy products are fueling the climate crisis, while plant-based diets help protect the planet. A study by the University of Oxford found that the dietary emissions for meat-eaters are 99 to 102% higher than for vegans. Another study published in The Lancet in 2019 concluded that a dietary shift towards plant foods and away from animal products is vital for promoting the health of our planet.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, animal products, both meat and dairy, generally require more resources and cause higher emissions than plant-based alternatives. The production of meat, especially beef, makes an unparalleled contribution to the planet's greenhouse gas emissions. It also consumes more land and water and causes more environmental damage than any other single food product.

A global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gases caused by food production by 70% by 2050. This is because animal agriculture, specifically cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, and pigs, are responsible for a large proportion of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. A study by Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, found that phasing out animal agriculture over the next 15 years would have the same effect as a 68% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the year 2100. This would provide 52% of the net emission reductions necessary to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which is the minimum threshold required to prevent catastrophic climate change.

The changes would come from the decay of the potent greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide, which are produced during the digestive process of ruminants such as cows and released into the atmosphere when they burp. Additionally, the recovery of biomass in natural ecosystems on the land currently used for livestock farming would help to reduce emissions.

However, it is important to note that not all plant-based foods have a small environmental footprint. Some vegan foods, such as avocados, almonds, and soy, have been criticized for their high water usage and contribution to deforestation. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of the environmental impact of different foods when adopting a vegan diet to ensure it is as sustainable as possible.

Preserve water

Water is one of the most vital resources on Earth, and water scarcity is a critical issue for both the environment and society. Our food system puts a lot of strain on global water supplies through overuse, pollution, and environmental degradation, with animal agriculture being a major contributor.

Switching to a vegan diet is one of the most effective ways to reduce your water footprint and protect the natural water cycle. Here's how:

Lower Water Consumption for Food Production

Animal agriculture is highly water-intensive, using large amounts of water to feed livestock. In contrast, plant-based foods consume much less water, making them a more sustainable choice. For example, it takes 14,964 litres of water to produce just 1 kilogram of beef, while the production of 1 kilogram of potatoes uses only 224 litres of water. With a vegan diet, you can lower your water consumption by 54%.

Less Pollution of Water Resources

The production of meat and animal products is responsible for water pollution. Animal farming has a large grey water footprint due to runoff from fertilisers, manure, and other pollutants. These pollutants can contaminate rivers, lakes, and groundwater, negatively impacting ecosystems and human health. Vegetarian and vegan diets produce fewer eutrophying emissions, reducing the eutrophication potential of your diet.

Protect the Water Cycle of Ecosystems

A vegan diet helps protect the natural water cycle by preventing deforestation and soil degradation. Animal agriculture is a leading driver of deforestation, as land is cleared to create grazing areas and grow feed crops. Deforestation and soil erosion disrupt and pollute freshwater ecosystems, harming biodiversity and making these waters less suitable for irrigation and human consumption. Plant-based foods require far less land, helping to protect ecosystems that play a vital role in the natural water cycle.

Reduced Impact of Climate Change

Adopting a vegan diet helps mitigate the impact of climate change on global water supplies. Livestock farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change affects the Earth's water cycle and resources. By reducing meat consumption, you can lower greenhouse gas emissions and protect water resources from the damaging effects of climate change.

Reduce land use

Overview

Adopting a vegan diet can significantly reduce land use, with researchers estimating a potential decrease in global agricultural land use of 75%. This reduction is mainly due to the lower amount of land needed for grazing and growing crops to feed animals. The land currently used for animal agriculture could be left to recover, with natural vegetation, forests, and ecosystems returning, benefiting biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Land Use for Animal Agriculture

Half of the world's habitable, ice- and desert-free land is used for agriculture, with most of it dedicated to raising livestock for meat and dairy. This land usage is extremely inefficient, as it takes around 100 times more land to produce the same amount of kilocalories or grams of protein from beef or lamb compared to plant-based alternatives.

The inefficiency of animal agriculture is further highlighted by the fact that only 48% of cereals globally are consumed directly by humans, while 41% are used for animal feed and 11% for biofuels. Similarly, only 7% of soy is used for human consumption, with the majority being fed to livestock.

Land Use for Vegan Diet

A shift to a vegan diet would require much less land, as plant-based diets have a smaller land footprint. This is because they eliminate the need for pasturelands and reduce the amount of cropland needed. Researchers estimate that a global shift to veganism could reduce agricultural land use from 4.1 billion hectares to 1 billion hectares, freeing up land equivalent in size to North America and Brazil combined.

Environmental Impact

The expansion of land for agriculture is the leading driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss. By reducing land use, vegan diets can help protect forests and ecosystems, which act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Additionally, the land currently used for animal agriculture could be allowed to recover, further contributing to carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change. This would also benefit biodiversity, as natural vegetation and ecosystems return, providing habitats for various plant and animal species.

Alleviate hunger

Adopting a vegan diet can help alleviate world hunger, which is caused by a complex interplay of factors such as poverty, lack of education, and political instability, which are further exacerbated by climate change, war, and displacement.

Veganism is proposed as a solution because it requires fewer resources to produce plant-based foods compared to animal-based foods. Animal agriculture demands more land, water, and resources, whereas plant-based agriculture can produce more food per acre. This increased food efficiency means that by adopting veganism, more food can be produced with the same resources, helping to feed more people.

Additionally, a significant amount of food is wasted in animal product production, and reducing the demand for these products could lead to less waste and more food available for human consumption. For example, a large portion of grain and soybeans grown for animal feed is wasted due to poor storage, transportation, and pest and weather damage.

Veganism can also contribute to alleviating hunger by improving food distribution. A significant portion of food grown globally is used to feed animals, and by reducing the demand for animal-based foods, more food can be distributed to people in need, especially in developing countries.

However, it is important to note that veganism alone cannot end world hunger. It is one approach among many, and other actions are needed to address this complex issue effectively. These include investing in sustainable agriculture, increasing food storage and distribution, tackling poverty and political instability, and reducing food waste.

By adopting veganism alongside implementing these other measures, we can work towards alleviating world hunger and creating a more equitable and sustainable food system.

Improve human health

A vegan diet can improve human health in several ways. Firstly, it can help with weight loss. Many studies suggest that vegans tend to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than non-vegans. Vegan diets are more effective for weight loss than omnivorous diets, as plant-based foods are often lower in calories and fat.

Secondly, a vegan diet can improve heart health. A large-scale 2019 study linked a higher intake of plant-based foods and a lower intake of animal products with a reduced risk of heart disease and death in adults. This is because plant-based diets are typically rich in nutrients and low in saturated fats, which are known to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Thirdly, a vegan diet may protect against certain types of cancer. A 2017 review found that eating a vegan diet may reduce an individual's risk of cancer by 15%. This is because plant-based diets are high in fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals, which offer protection against cancers.

Finally, a vegan diet can help manage type 2 diabetes. Research has shown that a plant-based diet can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 23%. This is because vegan diets are effective at reducing blood sugar levels and improving kidney function.

However, it is important to note that a vegan diet must be well-planned to ensure adequate nutrient intake. For example, vegans may need to supplement their diet with vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and iron, as these nutrients are typically obtained from animal products.

Frequently asked questions