Probably the easiest, cheapest, and most effective way to reduce your contribution to climate change is to adopt a vegan diet, or at least reduce your consumption of animal products. According to the United Nations, “raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined.” The livestock sector is responsible for some 9 per cent of human CO2 emissions, as well as “65 per cent of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CO2... 37 per cent of all human-induced methane (23 times as warming as CO2)... and 64 per cent of ammonia, which contributes significantly to acid rain.” Livestock production is also responsible for 70 per cent of the deforestation that has occurred in the Amazon rain forest, a tragedy which has resulted in a decline in biodiversity and contributed to global climate change. [1]
A recent study by two scientists in the geophysical science department at the University of Chicago found similar results: “The average American diet requires the production of an extra ton and a half of carbon dioxide-equivalent, in the form of actual carbon dioxide as well as methane and other greenhouse gases compared to a strictly vegetarian (vegan) diet.” The difference between a vegan diet and the average American diet, in terms of greenhouse emissions, “is comparable to the difference between driving an SUV and driving a reasonable sedan.” [2]
By adopting a vegan diet, you can reduce your personal greenhouse gas emissions, and thus your personal contribution to global warming, by 1.5 tons of CO2. You can also save the lives of about 100 animals per year and benefit your health as well. [3] The choice is yours. If you care about the environment, animals, and yourself, you need to consider going vegan.
More information on veganism, go to www.goveg.com or www.veganoutreach.org
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[1]http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=environment
[2] http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/060413.diet.shtml / http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1856817&page=1
