What is the single best thing we can do for the environment?
When thinking about a change in our behavior that can have, by itself, the greatest positive impact on the environment, we might think about things like recycling, driving an electric car or using public transport, or even considering planting some trees. However, while all these choices are certainly wise and are highly recommended, there is one that rarely comes to mind but arguably simpler to implement, vastly more effective, and is even beneficial for our health and wellbeing. The answer is to reduce the consumption of animal products, as much as practicable.
Meat, dairy, and the environment
The reason why eating meat and dairy products in large amounts is harmful for the environment comes down to a simple matter of efficiency: in industrial farming especially, animal feed is mostly composed of grain such as wheat, maize and beans such as soy. To produce 1 kg of animal protein, on average 6 kg of plant protein is required, which means that, on average, it is 6 times more efficient to eat plants than to eat animal products. For some animal products such as beef, the ratio is even worse, being higher than 10:1 (i.e., more than 10 kg of plants are needed to produce 1 kg of beef).
If the fossil fuel energy input is included, the data is even more striking: on average it requires more than 11 times more energy to produce 1 kg of animal product than to produce 1 kg of grains, with all the associated carbon emissions.
When it comes to water resources, 1 kg of beef protein requires 10000 L of water, compared to a maximum of 2000 L for 1 kg of plant protein. When the water resources needed to produce animal feed is taken into account, the water consumption skyrockets to more than 200000 L, which is 100 times the amount needed for a single kg of plant protein!
A small percentage of animals in the industry aren’t fed using grains and soy, but are pasture-fed: these are the so-called “free range”, or “organic” products. While these animal products are certainly more desirable, since they consume plants that we, as humans, can’t (grass), the efficiency of this kind of farming is even worse: it requires about 30 kg of feed for each kg of animal product, and it requires 3 times more land and 25% more water compared to grain fed animals. Since 80% of all agricultural land is already used for the production of animal products, switching to grass for all animals would require an amount of land which il larger than the surface of the Earth!
The impact we can have
Livestock production is responsible for about 15% of all the greenhouse gases emissions, compared to about 16% for all passenger vehicles (US data).
This means that, by reducing meat consumption you can have a significant impact on the environment: if everyone in the US stopped eating meat and dairy for just one day a week, this would be equivalent to taking 7.6 million cars off the road!
By avoiding a burger, you would save 1700 L of water, the equivalent of 30 showers!
You are now probably starting to see how regulating our eating habits can benefit the environment in a significant way, without significant hassle: while avoiding using your car or buying a more efficient vehicle is certainly helpful, it might not be practical or possible for everyone, on the other hand, being more conscious about your eating habits is certainly possible and even desirable, as we will see in the next section.
Health benefits and more
It is well known that eating less meat and dairy has several health benefits: according to Mayo clinic, having a predominantly vegan or vegetarian diet decreases the risk of heart and coronary diseases, diabetes and stroke. Contrary to popular belief, vegan and vegetarian dishes provide more than adequate amounts of protein, amino acids and other nutrients and have been shown to be appropriate for all ages, including during pregnancy if properly balanced. Plants are tasty!
A popular misconception about vegan/vegetarian dishes is that they are boring and less tasty than meat based meals.
While this might be true if you’re thinking about a salad with no dressing, in general nothing can be farther from the truth: there are literally thousands of dishes that contain nothing but plants that can give any other dish a run for their money. From spicy curries to delicious pastas, what plants have to offer might surprise you. There are several cuisines around the world that offer a plethora of delicious vegan/vegetarian options, such as Thai, Indian, Sri Lankan and Ethiopians.
Discovering new dishes is in itself an adventure worth embarking on.
Start small to make a big difference
Changing lifestyle is never easy, but it’s possible by making small steps; you could start by having “Meatless Mondays” and trying one new delicious recipe each week.
Alternatively, instead of giving up your meat-based protein completely, you could try to reduce the space it takes on your plate. Instead of a quarter-pound sirloin steak or a full serving of roasted chicken, try a vegetable-heavy stir-fry with a few slices of beef or a salad with chicken. Once your palate and mindset have adjusted to the smaller quantity of meat, try replacing it occasionally with plant-based proteins like tofu, seitan or beans.
Try sharing your best recipes with family and friends to increase the impact of your effort.
At the end of the day, a small change will make a big difference if we are consistent and we all work towards a more sustainable lifestyle.