Meat Eating Contributes to Climate Change

One of my favorite resources is the Organic Consumers Association and I receive their e-newsletter. It never fails to get me thinking. A recent post is a good example.

It highlights a Washington Post article which summarized a number of recent reports indicating that one of the best things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint or greenhouse gas pollution is to reduce your meat consumption. [In the interests of full disclosure, I should note that we are not vegans.]

According the the article:

• A Carnegie Melon study found that the average American would benefit the planet more by being vegetarian one day per week than by switching to a totally local diet
• A University of Chicago study found that switching to a vegan diet would have a bigger impact than trading your gas guzzler for a Prius.
• The head of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, recommended that people give up meat one day a week to take pressure off the atmosphere.
• According to a 2006 United Nations report, livestock accounts for 18 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
• Americans seem okay being told they should recycle, drive less, and weatherize their homes, but something short-circuits when you ask them to reduce their meat consumption