The International Day of Climate Action, celebrated each year on October 24, throws a spotlight on the urgent need to address climate change.
It is a good opportunity to consider how human actions contribute to global warming, environmental pollution and deforestation.
A good place to start is to look at what we put on our plates. A meat-heavy diet, in particular, has a negative impact on the environment.
“Animal farming practices are a primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,” says Tami Best, a functional and integrative dietitian who founded Promise of Vitality in the US.
“It is estimated that 57 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions produced from agricultural land use is from animal farming, versus 29 per cent from the farming of plant-based foods.”
Animal farming practices cause almost double the greenhouse gas emissions compared to plant-based farming, says Tami Best, a functional and integrative dietitian. Photo: Tami Best
Eating seafood may not be helping, either – overfishing is a major environmental issue, with many overfished ocean wildlife populations close to being depleted.