Most people are not aware of the connection between food and climate change. Although during the last few years many of us have become more aware of the importance of locally produced food, the far more pressing issue of global meat consumption has not been addressed sufficiently enough.
For many years documentaries like Devour the Earth have been informing us about the devastating impact the meat industry has on our environment. In 2006 the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN found that the meat industry is responsible for about 1/5 of all greenhouse gases produced. This means, meat production has a bigger impact on climate change than all of the world’s transportation traffic (incl. automobiles, trucks, airplanes, etc.) combined. (Source)
In October 2009 a new analysis by the WorldWatch Institute revealed that the original statistic by the FAO was a major underestimation. According to the new findings
the animal industry contributes at least 51% (!) of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
(Source)
For illustration purposes this would mean, that if we were to, for example, replace all our old light bulbs with energy efficient ones and ban all cars, trucks and airplanes worldwide, it would have less of an effect on climate change than if we were to switch from consuming animal to plant-based products.
Despite these sobering insights into the central problem of meat consumption the topic is still mostly ignored by politicians. Due to a strong lobby behind the animal industry the major media outlets, too, rarely report on this topic, and if they do the simplest and most effective solution strategy (i.e. reducing the consumption of animal products) is hardly ever mentioned.
The good news, however, is that an increasing number of people from all different areas (e.g. from celebrities and chief economists to hoteliers, government agencies and even entire cities) are helping to educate about vegan lifestyles and the connection between the way we eat and climate change.
