According to UN specialists, one meat-free day per week would help to tackle climate change more than reducing car journeys.
They calculate that greenhouse emissions per household could be reduced each year by an amount equivalent to driving a car 1150 miles if people were to switch from red meat to vegetables for just one day every week.
A recent report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says livestock production is one of the major causes of the world’s most pressing environmental problems, including global warming, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
About a third of the global grain harvest is allocated to animal feed and, according to the UN, the number of people on the brink of starvation is set to reach a record high of 1.02 billion. That’s one-sixth of the global population, so the idea of one meat free day per week should be a no brainer.
With October 1st being Vegetarian Day, there will be plenty of advice regarding healthy and tasty alternatives. Reducing meat (especially red meat) in our diets is a win, win, win for human, livestock and earth health.
~ Helen and Alan Shiel