Vegetarianism and Climate Change
 
  • The report from Worldwatch Institute shows that livestock raising is responsible for at least 51 percent of global warming.*
  • A Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency report showed that global shift to vegan diet could cut climate change mitigation costs by 80% *
  • According to the UN report “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” livestock production is the greatest contributor to global warming.*
  • Animal waste and feed cropland dump more pollutants into our waterways than all other human activities combined.
  • Meat-based diets require 10-20 times as much land as plant-based diets – nearly half of the world's grains & soybeans are fed to animals.



Proportion of GHG emissions from different parts of livestock production
Livestock production emissions: 18%
Global Transportation emissions: 13.5%

18% of all greenhouse-gas emissions from human activities, including:
9% of CO2
37% of CH4(methane) - 23 times the Global Warming Potential of CO2 over 100 years, 72 times over 20 years
65% of N2O (nitrous oxide) -296 times the Global Warming Potential of CO2 over 100 years, 275 over 20 years
Source: FAO, 2006 (1)
Producing 1kg beef:
  • Leads to the emission of greenhouse gases with a warming potential equivalent to 36.4 kg of CO2 .
  • Releases fertilising compounds equivalent to 340 g. of sulphur dioxide and 59 g. of phosphate.
  • Consumes 169 megajoules of energy .
  • 1 kg of beef is responsible for the equivalent of the amount of CO2 emitted by the average European car every 250 km, and burns enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 20 days.
  • Over two-thirds of the energy goes towards producing and transporting the animals' feed.
Source: Animal Science Journal, 2007
" the permafrost layer is melting each day. And the methane gas,or other gas even, are releasing into the atmosphere. I really hope and pray that someone is listening.Methane and nitrous oxide is made by stock raising, stock keeping, animals keeping. So they are far more poisonous, far more dangerous than CO2.

Because the atmosphere is getting warmer and so the methane is bubbling out. If we stop the worst cause of global warming,meaning stock raising, animal breeding,then we will be able to save the planet. We have to stop the killing of man or animals. We have to stop producing animals products. And we have to stop using it."
- Supreme Master Ching Hai - 6 July 2008– London Conference (2)
Latest News
Sea otter fatalities linked to global warming via algal blooms - 29 Sep 2010
UK leaders and co-citizens speak out on factory farms - 26 Sep 2010
Experts urge more crop farming and plant-based lifestyle to end Mongolian desertification - 29 Jul 2010
Agricultural pollution ruins nature and harms health - 14 Jul 2010
Nepali women set out on eco-ascent of world’s tallest peaks – vegan style - 8 Jul 2010
Harmful pesticides fed to parasite-ridden farmed salmon - 7 Jul 2010
Global methane from the livestock industry underestimated - 5 Jul 2010
South Korean officials pledge to be veg one day a week - 10 Jun 2010
United Nations and European Commission call for shift toward vegan diet to save the Earth - 5 Jun 2010
French National Assembly presented with veg solution. - 25 May 2010
Portland, Oregon, USA leads the way in veg sustainability. - 10 May 2010
Livestock feed increases ground ozone levels. - 8 May 2010
Stop eating fish to help the planet. - 5 Apr 2010
Award-winning TV legal expert makes the case for vegan solution to climate change. - 27 Mar 2010
New low-carbon program in China includes reducing meat.- 20 Mar 2010
more  
54
Human consumption of salmon and lobster triggers marine imbalances.- 30 Dec 2009
53
Enthusiasm runs high in Formosan (Taiwanese) school for reduced-meat program. - 29 Dec 2009
52
Swedish burger fast food chain encourages meat reduction to offset carbon emissions. - 28 Dec 2009
51
Formosan (Taiwanese) high school students promote meat-free meals to save the planet.- 26 Dec 2009
50
Overfishing linked to harmful algal blooms. - 24 Dec 2009
49
Galapagos species suffering from climate change and overfishing. - 22 Dec 2009
48
FAO hears expert consultation by Dr. Robert Goodland. - 10 Dec 2009
47
Animal agriculture affects global hunger. - 9 Dec 2009
46
European livestock raising exceeds carbon storage of trees and soils. - 8 Dec 2009
45
European Parliament Members discuss reducing meat and climate change.- 6 Dec 2009
44
Food insecurity looms with more rapid climate change. - 5 Dec 2009
43
Prestigious vegan scientist sets out to transform the food industry.- 30 Nov 2009
42
Informing ourselves of true carbon meat costs. – 28 Nov 2009
41
UK government supports reducing meat for the planet and human health. - 27 Nov 2009
40
Fish farming destroys important carbon sinks. - 26 Nov 2009
39
Media reports on major greenhouse gas and livestock source. - 26 Nov 2009
38
British climate chief speaks up for the veg climate solution in India. - 17 Nov 2009
37
Al Gore recommends reducing meat to address global warming. - 6 Nov 2009
36
The Australian reports on trend toward less meat. - 5 Nov 2009
35
British Prince Philip hosts vegan interfaith banquet for a sustainable planet. - 4 Nov 2009
34
Review of livestock and climate study by The Independent newspaper. - 4 Nov 2009
33
Lord Stern says to give up meat to save the planet. - 28 Oct 2009
32
Meat, the Climate, and Your Health: Mainstream Media Perspectives
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31
Fabrice Nicolino, Author of “The Meat Industry Threatens Our World”
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30
Culprit of the Fast Disappearing Global Biodiversity: The Livestock Industry
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29
Meat and Global Warming:Uncovering Truths to Save the Planet
Part 1
Part 2
28
Livestock generates over half of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions - Worldwatch Report
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27
Vegan: The Fastest Way to a Cooler Planet
Part 1
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Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
26
Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri-Global Warning: The Impact of Meat Production and Consumption on Climate Change
Part 1
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Part 2
25
Livestock contributes more to climate change than previous estimates.
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Meat, the Climate, and Your Health: Mainstream Media Perspectives
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Fabrice Nicolino, Author of “The Meat Industry Threatens Our World”
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Culprit of the Fast Disappearing Global Biodiversity: The Livestock Industry
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Meat and Global Warming:Uncovering Truths to Save the Planet
Part 1
Part 2
 
Livestock generates over half of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions - Worldwatch Report
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Vegan: The Fastest Way to a Cooler Planet
Part 1
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Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
 
Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri-Global Warning: The Impact of Meat Production and Consumption on Climate Change
Part 1
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Part 2
 
Livestock contributes more to climate change than previous estimates.
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Climate Change AD - Extreme Rise in Dangerous Methane
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Professor Barry Brook on Livestock Agriculture and Climate Change
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Dr. Rajendra Pachauri,Chief of UN IPCC on a Win-Win Situation for the Planet: Go Vegetarian!
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Introducing a Climate Friendly Diet: An Interview with Dr. Annika Carlsson-Kanyama
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Vegetarianism - The Way of Compassion
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Livestock a major threat to environment
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