Environmental Reasons to Become a Vegetarian

Being a meat eater my whole life, I never knew what would ever drive me to becomming a vegetarian until I found out the negative impact meat consumption had on the environment. If more people were given the straight facts on this issue, more would consider changing their diet for environmental purposes. If you are someone who cares about the earth and what humans can do to help it, familurizing yourself with the facts is a good way to be more aware.

Livestock’s gas and waste is the number one source of nitrous oxide and methane, which are 310 times and 72 times more powerful than carbon dioxide respectively. Livestock industry produces 18% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than that of the total world transportation systems – of all the cars, trains and planes combined.

Deforestation accounts for 18.3% of global emissions. Livestock overgrazing and crops production for the animals is a key reason for deforestation.

If every American go on a meat-free day per week, it would be the same as taking 8 million cars off American roads.

1 person going vegetarian for 1 year reduces 3,267 pounds of CO2 emissions (equivalent to savings from all household equipments for 1 year), feed 5 times more people, save many lives.