The Salt Lake Tribune
By Kathy Stephenson
Getting rid of that gas-guzzling car, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing windows with new energy efficient ones can all help the environment. But consumers could take a bigger bite out of the global warming problem if they simply cut back on the number of hamburgers, steaks and pork chops they eat.
Conventionally raised livestock generates 18 percent of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report released by the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization in 2006. That’s more than the emissions created by all the world’s cars, trains, planes and boats combined. In comparison, transportation is responsible for 13 percent of the emission problem.
No one is suggesting that everyone become vegetarians. But geophysicists have estimated that if every American reduced meat consumption 20 to 25 percent — that is, going meatless one or two days a week — the greenhouse gas savings would be the same as if everyone switched to a hybrid car.
“If everybody would treat meat as a condiment, not as a main course, it would solve a lot of problems,” explained Michael Heidinger, a Salt Lake City resident who — along with his wife, Andrea — eats a mostly vegetarian diet.
Eating less red meat can cut your grocery spending and improve your health, too. Studies have shown that those who indulge in high amounts of red meat and processed meats have an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.
But for Heidinger, it’s all about the environment. “With beef and pork, you’re eating something close to the top of the food chain and it takes a lot of grass, water and feed to produce.”
Raising and feeding cows by conventional methods uses billions of gallons of water and fertilizers, the U.N. report showed. It also degrades the soil and has caused the deforestations of million of acres of land as ranchers worldwide cut down trees to create more pasture land. Cows and their manure also produce methane, which has 23 times the warming impact of CO2.
The push for Americans to eat less meat has reached the White House. Last week, health and environmental advocates asked President Barack Obama to restart “meatless” days in America, a program that was instituted years ago by presidents Wilson, Truman and Roosevelt. Back then, Americans were asked to forgo meat one day a week — thus the term Meatless Mondays — in order to divert food to troops overseas and alleviate worldwide food shortages.
“It’s easy to do and can have huge benefits for our health and the health of our planet,” explained Peggy Neu, president of the national “Meatless Monday” campaign.
The Salt Lake Tribune: To Be Green, Eat Less Red
Posted: April 22, 2009 by Certified Humane
Getting rid of that gas-guzzling car, switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing windows with new energy efficient ones can all help the environment. But consumers could take a bigger bite out of the global warming problem if they simply cut back on the number of hamburgers, steaks and pork chops they eat.
No one is suggesting that everyone become vegetarians. But geophysicists have estimated that if every American reduced meat consumption 20 to 25 percent — that is, going meatless one or two days a week — the greenhouse gas savings would be the same as if everyone switched to a hybrid car.
Eating less red meat can cut your grocery spending and improve your health, too. Studies have shown that those who indulge in high amounts of red meat and processed meats have an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.
Raising and feeding cows by conventional methods uses billions of gallons of water and fertilizers, the U.N. report showed. It also degrades the soil and has caused the deforestations of million of acres of land as ranchers worldwide cut down trees to create more pasture land. Cows and their manure also produce methane, which has 23 times the warming impact of CO2.
“It’s easy to do and can have huge benefits for our health and the health of our planet,” explained Peggy Neu, president of the national “Meatless Monday” campaign.
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