Mr. Joop Oude Lohuis – Team Manager, Climate and Global Sustainability unit, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency: We are now at the point that science has more and better numbers on the effect of changing our diet and eating less meat.

A study by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency found that global dietary change would reduce the cost of mitigating global warming.

The cost to lower atmospheric greenhouse gas levels: US$40 trillion by 2050.

•    A global shift to a low-meat diet could save 50% of total mitigation cost.

•    A global shift to a meat-free diet could save 70% of total cost.

•    A global shift to an animal-free vegan diet would save climate mitigation costs by more than 80%.

Dr. Joop Oude Lohuis: That is a substantial cost reduction in getting to the same climate targets.

Not only governments, but individuals save too.

Mr. Joop Oude Lohuis: It’s a lot cheaper than buying photovoltaic cells on your house, or buying a hybrid car. It’s a very easy way to change your buying behavior and have a fantastic quality of your meal.

Videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai
Save Our Earth Conference 2009
South Korea – April 26, 2009