Today our planet faces many serious issues, such as global warming, climate change, water drought, and the burning of fossil fuels. Now what can the average American do to help and do their part? Most Environmental organizations advise people to change lightbulbs, recycle, take shorter showers, use bicycles over cars, and etc. However, what if I told you animal agriculture plays a larger role in environmental destruction then even the fossil fuel industry. Animal agriculture affects all the issues listed above.
You may think you live on a planet, but really you live on a gigantic farm, one occasionally broken up by cities, forests and the oceans. Some 40% of the world’s land surface is used for the purposes of keeping all 7 billion of us fed, albeit some of us, of course, more than others. And the vast majority of that land, about 30% of the world's total ice-free surface, is used not to raise grains, fruits and vegetables that are directly fed to human beings, but to support the chickens, pigs and cattle that we eventually eat. …show more content…
Deforestation in turn accounts for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), second only to energy which comes in at around 24%. So what do we want meat or forests? Meat is not going to save the planet. Forests, on the other hand, are absolutely vital in the fight against climate change, and we should be doing everything we can to save what we have left. Curbing deforestation is one highly cost-effective and very rapid method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions requiring no new technology or special equipment. The average American consumes 209 pounds of meat each year. Everyday, a person that eats a plant-based diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 sq. ft. of forested land, the equivalent of 20 lbs. of CO2 and one animal’s
You may think you live on a planet, but really you live on a gigantic farm, one occasionally broken up by cities, forests and the oceans. Some 40% of the world’s land surface is used for the purposes of keeping all 7 billion of us fed, albeit some of us, of course, more than others. And the vast majority of that land, about 30% of the world's total ice-free surface, is used not to raise grains, fruits and vegetables that are directly fed to human beings, but to support the chickens, pigs and cattle that we eventually eat. …show more content…
Deforestation in turn accounts for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), second only to energy which comes in at around 24%. So what do we want meat or forests? Meat is not going to save the planet. Forests, on the other hand, are absolutely vital in the fight against climate change, and we should be doing everything we can to save what we have left. Curbing deforestation is one highly cost-effective and very rapid method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions requiring no new technology or special equipment. The average American consumes 209 pounds of meat each year. Everyday, a person that eats a plant-based diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 sq. ft. of forested land, the equivalent of 20 lbs. of CO2 and one animal’s