I am not a vegetarian, though I limit the amount of meat I consume. I am definitely not a vegan (I love dairy). I tell you this, because what I’m about to say will not be popular with people who love meat.
If you want to make a difference in the world, you really should cut back on meat… particularly beef.
Why?
- Livestock contributes an estimated 14.5% to greenhouse gas emissions. Keep in mind, this includes all livestock raised for all purposes, including wool and dairy production.
- Livestock uses an enormous amount of land. The single greatest portion of U.S. land (654M acres) goes to pasture and range. And land used for livestock feed makes up 127.4M acres of the 391.5M acres of cropland in the U.S. Cattle production is an enormous contributor to deforestation in Brazil (but note that soy is a contributor, too). By the way, if you are interested cage-free, free-range animal products, that requires even more land.
- Livestock contributes to water pollution, particularly if runoff from feedlots is not properly managed.
If the environmental impact of raising livestock isn’t enough to convince you to eat less meat, you might be interested in knowing that many studies, including Dan Buettner’s Blue Zones research, indicate that a plant-based diet is far healthier than one that emphasizes animal products. Eating less meat can save you money, too.
If you love meat, you don’t need to give it up entirely. Just cut down on the amount you eat. Eat some meatless meals every week. Don’t make a big slab of meat the centerpiece of your meal, instead use it more sparingly as just one component of your meal — think pasta, soup, and trendy “bowl” foods. You’ll be doing yourself — and the world — a favor.