A leaked report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body responsible for assessing climate change, warns that urgent changes must be made to the way in which we approach agriculture and utilise land, suggesting veganism as a possible solution in terms of greenhouse gases, otherwise dire consequences will be seen imminently.
The IPCC says that current measures to tackle climate change by cutting carbon emissions from only cars, factories and power plants will not prevent catastrophic changes in our climate. The Guardian reports today that such changes are already being experienced around the world and at rates alarmingly quicker than predicted. For example, the Arctic sea-ice coverage reached dangerously levels for July; the European heatwaves were 1.5C to 3C higher than predicted; and temperatures for July around the world were 1.2C higher than pre-industrial levels for the month.
It describes that humans are currently abusing 72% of the planet’s surface in order to feed and clothe the constantly growing population. Half of all methane emissions come from cattle raised for meat production and the deforestation of peatlands to create further land for cattle (or the growing of grains to feed such cattle) leads to further carbon emissions on a vast level.
The report suggests amongst other measures, a widespread adoption of plant based diets. “The consumption of healthy and sustainable diets, such as those based on coarse grains, pulses and vegetables, and nuts and seeds … presents major opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” the UN body advises.
For further information related to the impact of veganism and animal agriculture, see the below related articles.
https://vegconomist.com/society/vegan-meat-companies-are-helping-to-save-the-planet/
