The environmental impact of animal agriculture has only come to prominence over this last 2 decades with the publication of ‘Livestock’s Long Shadow’ in 2006 first drawing attention on a global scale to the negative environmental impact of animal agriculture. Since then, countless studies have shown that industrialised animal agriculture is destroying our planet, and a switch to plant based food systems has become of prime importance as the effects of climate change manifest more and more

The biggest problem with emissions is the amount of methane produced by cows and by animal manure. Methane is a potent gas that is driving climate change and steps to reduce methane emissions are vital in achieving significant reductions overall. Studies show that livestock production accounts for around 9% of all CO2 emissions, 35-40% of methane emissions and 65% of nitrous oxide emissions. High-impact beef producers create 105kg of CO2 equivalents and use 370m2 of land per 100 grams of protein. Low-impact beans, peas, and other plant-based proteins can create just 0.3kg of CO2 equivalents (including all processing, packaging, and transport), and use just 1m2 of land per 100 grams of protein.

 

Animal agriculture is driving deforestation. The clearing of rainforest to create pasture for cattle to graze is responsible for around 80% of Amazon rainforest destruction, with over 30% of rainforests now destroyed by humans and a further 30% degraded. 

 

The vast amount of manure produced by animal agriculture is literally poisoning our rivers – The River Wye in the UK being a very poignant example, even more so as a result of recent High Court ruling affecting chicken manure and intensive chicken farms 

 

Animal Agriculture uses up a lot of land, and with it we are seeing a big increase in habitat loss. If the world adopted a plant-based diet, we would reduce global agriculture land use from 4 to 1 billion hectares.

 

Researchers have found that replacing meat intake in favour of more plant-based foods could help reverse the decline of more than 500 species in the UK

The global food system is the biggest driver of destruction of the natural world, and a shift to predominantly plant-based diets is crucial in halting the damage, according to reports. Agriculture is the main threat to 86% of the 28,000 species known to be at risk of extinction

 

Our oceans also suffer immensely due to the demand for seafood, with a staggering trillion sea animals killed globally each year. Modern fishing practices and trawlers inflict extensive damage on ocean beds, compounding the destruction of countless sentient lives. Simultaneously, industrial salmon farming continues to degrade both salmon and their natural habitats, leading to unprecedented levels of infection and pollution. Adopting a vegan lifestyle means abstaining from the use of sea animals, just as with any other animal. This shift towards plant-based living can significantly aid the natural restoration of ocean ecosystems. Beyond overfishing, the issue of bycatch poses a significant threat. Transitioning to plant-based alternatives, with numerous innovative products now available that mimic fish like salmon and tuna, directly addresses these concerns. Moreover, a vegan ethos often encompasses a broader awareness of pollution, such as oil spills, naturally aligning with support for green energy sources and the phasing out of fossil fuels.

Ocean Dead Zones https://plantbasedtreaty.org/stop-eating-animals-to-prevent-more-ocean-dead-zones/

 

Joseph Poore and his team conducted research into the benefits of plant based diets at Oxford University in 2018, concluding that without meat and dairy consumption, global farmland use could be reduced by more than 75% – an area equivalent to the US, China, European Union and Australia combined – and still feed the world