In theory, there is a simple way to reduce the carbon emissions associated with climate change, and prevent several million deaths at the same time. A 2016 study by Oxford University researchers published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claimed that food-related greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by 70 percent by 2050 if the world’s population adopted a vegan diet. Furthermore, they estimated that this would also result in 8.1 million fewer human deaths for those on such a diet. Eliminating humanity’s consumption of meat and animal products would also save billions of dollars a year in health care costs, the researchers said.
The vegan lifestyle:
- "Vegan" is a dietary term and a lifestyle choice coined by English animal rights advocate Donald Watson in 1944.
- A vegan is a strict vegetarian who also doesn’t eat dairy products, eggs, cheese, or honey. Vegans also avoid animal-related products such as leather, fur, and wool.
- Vegans get protein from several sources, including soy, quinoa, chia, and peas.
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Discussion Comments
True, there is no hard fix here. Agree with reducing and moderating consumption by up to 3/4th of meat and other live animal products. However, I witness from being a vegan for only 65 days(including no drinks) has made me healthier, happier and more active by reducing 4 Kgs without effort.
Death could come anyway, whatever life style we follow- being moderate would be OK.
Do you think animals, such as lions, hyenas, crocodiles, snakes, fish, whales, dolphins, sharks, cats, eagles, and frogs, are willing to stop consuming what, for them, is a normal diet of other creatures? How about we stop eating insects, even those that just happen to fly into our open mouths? What about those tiny bacteria we eat? How about the skin cells we ingest, whether our own, or others'?
There really is no such thing as being abstinent from all flesh consumption, or the consumption of only plant life. The harvesting of wool from an animal is more a benefit than ever a harm to the animal. I think that we might improve somewhat only if we ate fewer animal products. The fact is, as long as organisms live on this planet, no matter the kind, carbon emissions will result. Climate change has been happening whether we seem to encourage it or not.
Sometimes, the the likelihood of human death is enhanced by where we choose to live. If you live in a coastal city, you can expect more weather related issues because there is a greater convergence of forces present. If live near a historically active volcano, you are at risk of being caught in its eruption at some time. If you live in Oklahoma, your experience with tornadoes rises significantly. If you live in a geographically arid place, water will be less available. Anon. Fresh water is more of an issue now than ever. This is the capstone of our survival. All life depends on a healthy source of water. Get this right, and we live, whether we eat animal products or not.
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