We’ve all seen the videos. Cringe-inducing footage of chickens packed tightly in cages and factory slaughterhouses. Most of us, if not all of us, know that animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change.
Back in 2006, the United Nations reported that livestock production is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide- more than transportation. More recent information estimates 7.1 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions equivalent. Though technology is catching up to mitigate these climate concerns, the solution is simple. Eat less meat.
Humans are funny. In a scary, “the world is ending but I don’t really care” type of way. I admit, I am a creature of habit and that includes my favorite foods. I’ve been known to down 2 McChickens at a time (shhh it’s a secret). Though I’ve known the countless benefits of a plant-based diet- and experienced them for periods of time- I always had an excuse.
Life’s too short not to eat my favorite foods. I can’t change the inevitable. If I don’t eat the chicken nuggets, someone will.
These excuses are dangerous. It takes a little bit of preparation and a little bit of inspiration to replace meat entirely. While I am not vegan or vegetarian, I reduced the amount of times I eat meat to 2-3 times per month. I quickly got bored of salads, so I got more creative in the kitchen. Thanks to Instagram, the inspiration is endless and aesthetically pleasing. My favorite vegetarian/vegan meal is a grain bowl. Top a healthy, filling grain with whatever’s in your fridge and pantry. Drizzle a little sauce on there and you’re ready to tackle climate change.
Cutting down meat consumption is an individual responsibility. Taking it upon ourselves to choose more vegetables and less beef has the potential to change the course of the environment. One person cannot do it alone. Reducing the demand, and therefore supply, requires a team effort. I’m in.
Sources:
http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/resources/en/publications/tackling_climate_change/index.htm
https://journals.law.stanford.edu/stanford-environmental-law-journal-elj/blog/leading-cause-everything-one-industry-destroying-our-planet-and-our-ability-thrive-it
http://fitfoodiefinds.com/2016/01/healthy-buddha-bowl-recipes/
Although I agree with your point that meat consumption needs to dramatically increase, do you think encouraging people to buy meat that is organic, grass fed, and humanely treated is an easier alternative? It is likely not sustainable to have the same quantity of meat we consume produced organically, but the combination of more ethical meat choices with decreasing consumption seem to be the best route for those who are unwilling to cut meat out from their diet completely.
I’m down too! Last year my roommate went vegan, and of course watched all the documentaries about how horrible animals are for our planet. She was a bit extreme but I learned a lot from her. Now on my own sustainability journey, I have really realized just how horrible meat production is for the earth (and it really isn’t that great for your body either). If you are looking for more awesome vegan/vegetarian recipes I would check out Pinterest. You can type a few keywords in and it gives you pages of results that match what you’re looking for.