This Earth Day, we want to address concerns over animal agriculture vs plant-based agriculture.
In doing so, here are some facts about how our diets and lifestyles affect our planet:
- A University of Chicago report states that changing to a vegan diet is more then changing to a hybrid car for reducing greenhouse gases (source)
- EPA statistics show that animal agriculture is the number one source of methane emissions. we might strike this one.
- A UN report states that the meat, dairy, and egg industries account for 65% of global nitrous oxide ( a global warming gas) emissions. (source)
- 7 football fields of forestland are destroyed each minute, much of it to make room for farm animals. (source)
- 16 lb of grain makes 1 lb. of meat
- 80% of the global soy crop is used to feed farm animals.
- A vegan diet requires roughly 300 gallons a day. A meat-eating diet requires roughly 4000 gallons.
- In the U.S. 80% of agricultural and half of all water resources, and 1/3 of all fossil fuels are used to raise animals for food.
- A 2006 UN report found that meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all cars, trucks, planes and ships combined.
- The amount of grains fed to U.S. livestock is sufficient to feed about 840 million people who follow a plant-based diet.
- 1 kg of animal protein requires 100 times more water to produce then 1 kg of grain protein.
- According the UNPFA, demand for meat in the developing world is expected to grow by 40% by 2020. They will have profound implications for global agriculture, water supply (FAO predicts that by 2050, 2/3 of people worldwide will lack clean water), health and the environment. Between 12 20 million people (some estimates are much higher) die every year from hunger related causes.
Enjoy your Earth Day!
“We do not take a trip; A trip takes us.”
Hello. I’m Brittany, and I like to travel. I enjoy sharing photos and telling stories about the places I’ve been and the experiences I’ve had. After graduating college, I backpacked Europe alone. Some would say I’m a bold traveler, but I feel like I’m just getting started. I tend to attract colorful situations, so I hope you enjoy what you read!