UN Scientists Urge Western World to Halve Meat Consumption

TillamookCows-e1332802870147.jpgAccording to the Guardian, Professor Mark Sutton, a lead author of a recent UN Environment Programme (UNEP) study on agriculture and the environment, is calling for a 50 percent reduction in the consumption of meat throughout the Western world, to lessen the effects of meat production on climate change.

UNEP warns: “Unless action is taken, increases in pollution and per capita consumption of energy and animal products will exacerbate nutrient losses, pollution levels and land degradation, further threatening the quality of our water, air and soils, affecting climate and biodiversity.”

Agriculture, particularly meat and dairy production, accounts for over 90% of water depletion, and according to Assessing the Environmental Impact of Consumption and Production, a 2010 report from the United Nations, 70% of global freshwater consumption, 38% of total land use, and 19% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Vegetarian foods, on the other hand, only take a fraction of the water and other resources needed to sustain meat-based diets.

Whether you’re concerned about environmental destruction, animal suffering on factory farms, or the quality of your health, your food choices hold tremendous power. Instead of reducing meat consumption by 50 percent, imagine if everyone went completely meat-free! Visit ChooseVeg.com for hundreds of delicious vegan recipes, along with tips on adopting an animal-friendly and eco-friendly diet.