A global diet free of meat and dairy is necessary for the world to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, according to a new report from the UN. The report, Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Production and Consumption: Priority Products and Materials from the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP), found that consuming a diet of meat and dairy is as bad for the planet as global fossil fuel consumption because both increase in direct proportion to the economic growth.
“Agriculture and food consumption are identified as one of the most important drivers of environmental pressures, especially habitat change, climate change, water use and toxic emissions,” explains the report. “As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets heavy in meat and dairy products are unsustainable.”
Agriculture, in particular meat and dairy products, account for 70% of global freshwater consumption, 38% of total land use and 19% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions according to the report. A vegan diet has the least impact on the planet.
Read the UN Report here.
Via Guardian UK
Comments (15)
More people need this information, I'm glad the UN is finally paying attention.
"I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals, as surely as the savage tribes have left off eating each other.... ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854
written by Natalie , June 12, 2010
"I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals, as surely as the savage tribes have left off eating each other.... ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854
written by Natalie , June 12, 2010
In colder Northern Canadian climate high fatty meat consumption essential to survival - Also: Human slavery under the corporatist masters requires force -feeding of large quantities of meat to keep energy high enough to perform designated tasks! Try Canadian Hard rock mining on a tummy full of veggies and you will find it near impossible to keep up with great strong "broken in" and work hardened, meat eating miners! Heavy work required by Corporatists requires a heavy meats and high calorie diet ending in a short life with vascular disease for survivors of the ordeal of being gainfully employed in Canada, a colder country where veggies are often flown in at higher cost than meats that are domestically grown! Sweeping generalizations do little to alleviate the real stresses of the working classes!
written by Uncle B , June 16, 2010
written by Uncle B , June 16, 2010
Quite frankly humans do have the insides to eat meat. Meat contains many essential things to our inner workings such as iron and protein. Vegetables alone will not suffice to fill the void left by lack of meat-only nutrients we need. Fish isn't a great substitute either because many of them are already illegal due to over fishing so turning the whole planet of 6+ billion people to eating fish so they can sustain a veggie diet like many others do is a bad idea. Simply put animals eating other animals is necessary. Meat eaters dont push meat on vegetarians so why should they push meat on us? No one side is right in this arguement. Just one more correct than the other.
written by Anthony L , June 16, 2010
written by Anthony L , June 16, 2010
soilent green will be the official food sponsorer of the un 2015 assembly
written by jason , June 17, 2010
written by jason , June 17, 2010
We have canine teeth because we evolved as meat eaters. Meat tasted good for a reason. Sorry U.N. you can preach until you're blue in the face. I'm not buying it.
I do look forward to a day that we can grow meat in a factory, but until then, I'm eating animals (mostly free range)
written by Gordy , June 17, 2010
I do look forward to a day that we can grow meat in a factory, but until then, I'm eating animals (mostly free range)
written by Gordy , June 17, 2010
"Meat contains many essential things to our inner workings such as iron and protein"
Also easily available from non-animal sources. A varied diet of veggies and grains provides all the nutrients minus the fats of meat. Hemp milk is a source of near perfect protein, not to mention all the good things meat lacks.
written by Ren , June 17, 2010
Also easily available from non-animal sources. A varied diet of veggies and grains provides all the nutrients minus the fats of meat. Hemp milk is a source of near perfect protein, not to mention all the good things meat lacks.
written by Ren , June 17, 2010
I'm almost positive the U.N. would like for us to give up "meat and dairy", and not so much "meat and diary". I know many of my fellow Americans constantly munch on 5 1/2 x 8inch lined paper--and are VERY conscious about the effects diary eating can have on the climate.
written by ashley , June 17, 2010
written by ashley , June 17, 2010
Why, oh why are we not looking at curbing our reckless population growth.
Vegan diet means only one thing - more people.
Like we need that!
written by Zogmoose , June 17, 2010
Vegan diet means only one thing - more people.
Like we need that!
written by Zogmoose , June 17, 2010
Happy to see recognition that this is part of the solution to climate change. I'm vegan because of the animals, but personal health, the environment, and helping alleviate global poverty are also great reasons to be vegan.
I'm glad someone else recommended watching Earthlings; I second that recommendation.
To comment on a debate going on here: it seems that while our digestive systems can deal with animal products, particularly cooked ones, there's no question that we are better off without these in our diets. Healthy vegan diets offer the most protection against disease and are the most supportive of good health. For confirmation of this fact, please see the ADA and Dietitians of Canada's position papers on vegetarian diets (covers vegan diets, too).
written by Kim , June 23, 2010
I'm glad someone else recommended watching Earthlings; I second that recommendation.
To comment on a debate going on here: it seems that while our digestive systems can deal with animal products, particularly cooked ones, there's no question that we are better off without these in our diets. Healthy vegan diets offer the most protection against disease and are the most supportive of good health. For confirmation of this fact, please see the ADA and Dietitians of Canada's position papers on vegetarian diets (covers vegan diets, too).
written by Kim , June 23, 2010
Vegetarians I see look very pale and unhealthy some are also overweight but thats their choice. Just like it's my choice to eat meat and continue eating meat. This save the planet bulls**t is wearing thin. Not so long ago world leaders would have no trouble destroying the planet with nuclear weapons, now all of a sudden they want to save it from it's climate. Wake up people.
written by Mike , July 21, 2010
written by Mike , July 21, 2010
omg....we have totally lost it as a civilization....meat or no meat we're all doomed.
written by rare , July 22, 2010
written by rare , July 22, 2010
Funny...
Vegan will save the world? Hardly... Why not address the root cause??? Over Population!!!
I haven't seen the UN dip into that little morsel!!
Everything else is a spin off...
written by Mongo , July 24, 2010
Vegan will save the world? Hardly... Why not address the root cause??? Over Population!!!
I haven't seen the UN dip into that little morsel!!
Everything else is a spin off...
written by Mongo , July 24, 2010
I am seriously concerned by the lack of nutritional knowledge from pro-meat eaters here.....
written by Gazza , July 31, 2010
written by Gazza , July 31, 2010
@ Anthony L "Quite frankly humans do have the insides to eat meat"
Oh Dear, I assume you have not touched on the subject of nutrition since your Primary School "Conditioning".....
written by Gazza , August 01, 2010
Oh Dear, I assume you have not touched on the subject of nutrition since your Primary School "Conditioning".....
written by Gazza , August 01, 2010
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written by Muffin , June 11, 2010