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Food & Hunger

What did you learn about dietary choices from using the footprint calculator? Now imagine that you could translate what you learned into an effective societal policy on food- what would it be? And how would this policy effect the need to alleviate world hunger?

925 million people on earth do not have enough to eat according to the FAO [Food and Agricultural Organization]. That's almost 1 in 7 inhabitants of our planet!




Food & Hunger >

how meat affects your carbon footprint

sfr4

something that everyone can do to reduce there carbon footprint is eating less meat. Even though i do realize meat is a crucial part of a lot of people’s diets and not an easy thing to give up, i still think a lot of people aren’t aware of the serious affects meat has on our environment. The 1st thing i have to say about meat is how much land it takes to raise meat that is fully grown, one thing i’m not sure most of you know is that feeding someone who is vegan for a year takes only 1/6th of an acre of land while someone on a meat and dairy diet for a year uses 18 times that amount of land. i think this is a very scary statistic but also a very real one, raising meat does use a lot of land and meat eaters have to realize that. the 2nd thing i have to say about meat is how much methane cows produce. cows produce this methane through there farts, burps or poop, we contribute to this by eating cows. considering how many cows are bred because of the demand we put on them meaning more of the methane that cows produce is going up into the atmosphere. i think it is a really good idea for people to consider eating less meat and dairy meals each week as it is a great way to help save our planet and reduce your carbon footprint.

MLoesch

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, over 900 million people on Earth don’t have enough food to eat. This is nearly 1 in 7 inhabitants on Earth. Assessing our carbon footprint in correlation with our dietary choices shows that plant-based diets, often vegan or vegetarian, substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions as opposed to meat-heavy diets.

mija28

I agree with you, eating less meat is a great way to help the planet. Raising animals uses a lot of land. A vegan diet can cut land use by up to 75% (University of Oxford), which means more space for vegetation and animals. Also, cows release a gas called methane, which traps heat and harms the atmosphere. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says methane is over 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Even eating a few plant based meals each week can lower your carbon footprint and help the Earth.

Joop

This is an extremely important argument, and I completely agree with it. Yes, the main problems from the meat industry are the absurd amounts of land usage and high methane emissions. The statistic about a meat and dairy diet requiring 18 times the land of a vegan diet is a powerful way to show the scale of the issue. I also agree that the solution does not have to be veganism or vegetarianism, which definitely won't suit everyone; a compromise is! Two to three meatless meals a week will make a big difference!

Atollox

Reducing meat in our diets or even eliminating meat in our diets can indeed reduce a carbon footprint. However this is a rather difficult task, considering the fact that meat is an excellent source of nutrients and protein in our diets. Removing it could cause issues in your daily activities (if you’re active) and a loss of energy, however it is possible, considering that 22% of the global population does not consume meat.It is a great way to reduce our carbon footprints and help contribute to the better of our atmosphere.

Teja

I definitely agree with these points; cutting back on meat consumption is among the most efficient ways a person can lessen their carbon footprint greatly. Methane emissions from cows are a significant contributor to climate change, and raising animals for meat also requires a vast amount of land and resources, as several others have noted. Making even minor adjustments, such as eating two or three meatless meals a week, can have a big positive impact on the environment. The advantages for the environment also go beyond greenhouse emissions, I would like to add. By reserving land for natural habitats rather than livestock, a shift to plant-based diets can help conserve many resources, including water. This will also help prevent deforestation and promote biodiversity. Eating less meat or purchasing meat locally can help local communities and advance healthier food systems. One of the best strategies to fight climate change may involve combining systematic changes in the way food is produced, along with small lifestyle adjustments. According to a study titled "Solving Climate Change Requires Changing Our Food Systems", agriculture and food systems are responsible for approximately 34% of all global GHG emissions annually. This highlights how diet and food production practices are intertwined with climate change. In the end, I believe it comes down to balance, cutting back on meat when one can, and considering how dietary choices affect the environment around us. This self-reflection will help people make better choices.

Maddiehasagoodcarbonfootprinr

I totally agree. Cutting back on meat is such a great way to reduce carbon footprints. Easy ways to do this are replacing things like chicken and beef with plant proteins like tofu. Eating a plant based diet can also help reduce things like deforestation to increase biodiversity. Sometimes making small lifestyle changes we can have such a posting impact on our planet.

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