What do you like more: a hamburger with potatoes or a salad? Vegetables don't usually like them, but they should. Livestock emits more than 14,5% of the world's greenhouse gases, and that is a problem, since An average of 40kg of animal products is consumed in the world per person per year; in Spain, 100kg.
For the planet to be sustainable, meat consumption should be reduced five times according to Florent Marcellesi, Equo MEP.
The impact of meat consumption on the environment
Meat consumption in so-called First World countries is skyrocketing, which is reflected in the streets. More and more obese people While in countries like Japan, where they have a more vegetarian diet, it is difficult to find someone who is overweight. This may be related to the reducing meat consumption to combat climate change.
Según un study led by the University of Oxford and carried out in 2014, the CO2 emissions of vegetarians are 50% lower than those of daily meat eaters, and those of vegans 60%. This highlights the importance of the .
However, it's not necessary to become vegetarian to help the planet; just eat everything: fruits, vegetables, and occasionally meat. Humans are omnivores and descend from monkeys, which are animals that eat mostly plants, except for a few others, like the African chimpanzee, which also eat insects.
If you would like to learn more about how livestock farming affects the environment, you can read more about the topic at this article.
The price of meat and access to healthy alternatives
What happen? What eating processed meat has become more affordable than eating fruits and vegetables, which is illogical since it takes far more resources to produce meat than fruits and vegetables. It's cheaper to buy meat than vegetables, and so that's what we eat. This aspect is related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
But if we continue like this, The natural landscapes we love so much could soon cease to be so unless we reduce carbon dioxide emissions. (CO2), and this implies reducing meat consumption. This is in line with initiatives that seek to .
Meat consumption and its relationship with climate change
Although a sometimes deeply held belief assumes that industry, transportation, and the energy sector are the most polluting activities, the role of food in the overall greenhouse gas emissions is a reality that cannot be ignored. Thus, the study titled The global impacts of food production and published in 2018 in the magazine Science by scientists from the University of Oxford pointed to a very significant fact: at least 25% of annual greenhouse gas emissions come from the food sector.
25% of annual greenhouse gas emissions come from the food sector.
Of this quarter of the emissions, 58% corresponds to the generation of animal products, and in turn, a 50% of them correspond to the production of beef and lambThis highlights the need to consider the reduction in meat consumption to combat climate change.
According to the study, these data show that reducing consumption of both meat and dairy products could reduce the carbon footprint of the food we eat by two-thirds. If we want to have a positive impact in this regard, experts recommend consume less meat and animal products, but also include more local, and especially seasonal, foods in our diet.
"If a typical carnivore adopted a vegan diet, their carbon footprint would be cut in half," says Peter Scarborough, a researcher at the University of Oxford.
This second thing is of great importance, because sometimes, no matter how little meat we consider consuming, The carbon footprint of a beef steak from a location close to our cities could be smaller than that of an avocado imported from Ecuador, an orange from China, or strawberries grown out of season.. And the overall calculation of the carbon footprint, beyond the nature of the product, must take into account the total emissions generated from the moment the product is produced until, sometimes crossing half the planet, it reaches our plates.
If you want to know more about the impact of climate change in Spain, you might be interested in visiting this article.
Meat production and its environmental consequences
Meat production is linked to a series of environmental problems that go beyond the simple emission of greenhouse gases. The conversion of land for livestock farming has led to deforestation and the loss of natural habitats. In fact, Industrial livestock farming is responsible for 70% of deforestation in the Amazon.This is due to the monocultures of soybeans and corn that are ravaging much of Latin America and Asia to produce animal feed and feed livestock. This process leaves a significant footprint on the environment, making it even more urgent to reduction in meat consumption.
Furthermore, the exploitation of water resources is severe. To produce one kilo of beef, 15,000 liters of water are needed.; the same amount of water a person uses in 100 days. And yet, for one kilo of lentils we only need 5,000 liters. Therefore, Reducing meat consumption not only helps the environment, but also allows for better management of water resources.
Benefits of a more sustainable diet
Reducing meat and dairy consumption is not only beneficial for the environment, but it can also have positive effects on health. Countless studies show the benefits of eating plant-based proteins compared to animal-based proteins, with results ranging from reduced rates of cancer and heart disease to a longer life expectancy. This not only benefits those who decide to change their diet, but can also motivate those around them. A more sustainable lifestyle is essential to addressing the current climate crisis.
Adopting more sustainable diets can be a path to well-being, not only for individuals but also for the collective. Communities that commit to consuming less meat can improve their overall health and contribute to a more sustainable future for the planet. As various studies mention, this can be a crucial step toward reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Recommendations to reduce meat consumption
- Start by establishing meat-free days in your weekly diet.
- Choose plant-based protein options like legumes, nuts, and grains.
- Include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in your meals.
- Learn about the origin of your meat products and choose sustainably produced products.
A change in diet not only translates into individual benefits, but can also influence large-scale policies and practices. If enough people begin to opt for more sustainable diets, it could have a noticeable impact on the food industry and the way food is produced globally. Therefore, it is crucial to continue discussing how reducing meat consumption to combat climate change.
