Recently, there has been an increase in meat free diets. There’s no denying that being meat free is beneficial to the planet. We live in a world where many believe they can’t live without meat. Yet many are quick to tell us not to eat meat, but don’t explain why. Forcing views onto others isn’t the correct way to enforce something. However, educating others on their choices is. To understand how your choices impact our world is one of the most influential things we can do.
Our planet’s decline
According to Greenpeace UK, majority of meat bought in the UK is produced in intensive factory farms- a system that mass produces meat and dairy.
The production of meat is supported by supermarkets and fast food chains when they buy from companies owned by JBS. This the world’s largest meat processing company. Companies like this contribute to carbon emissions and deforestation of the Amazon. It’s clear to state that the mass production of meat is the driving force to a climate catastrophe.
Industrial meat requires huge amounts of land. By doing so, forests are destroyed and burned. Raising cattle and growing crops for the animals to eat seems more important than sustainability.
We are starving the planet. We are destroying homes. We are destroying livelihoods.
Deforestation is global problem. And the UK isn’t innocent.
With the clearing of forests to make way for meat production, billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide is released. Increasing a phenomenon, we call global warming.
Many trees we cut down have a history, just like us. It has a start, and it has an end; but the end is coming sooner then expected.
Countless of habitats are destroyed and food sources perish. It is killing wildlife. Many of which we love dearly, and many that are yet to be discovered.
Greenpeace UK states that we need to be eating 7% less meat and diary by 2020 to prevent a climate catastrophe. It is supported by evidence that being more plant-based saves forests. And quite frankly, our planet too and everything on it.
Individual actions can make a difference. Of course, changing our diets is the first step. But big organisations can make even a bigger difference. Food is easily shipped all round the world. It’s become the norm to eat something shipped from another country.
Supermarkets, among other big corporations, have made promises to reduce their destructive ways. But promises are meaningless unless they are acted upon. Knowing how our consumption patterns impact the planet is one of the most powerful things we can do.
Habits can be changed. Turning a blind idea to the issue can be changed too.
Just how bad is it?
There is no denying that meat consumption is a leading factor in our planets demise.
According to the statistics from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the worlds average stock of chickens is nearly 19 billion. There are more farm animals then humans on earth. Doesn’t that accentuate how much meat humans actually eat?
Despite not being the most favourite meat, beef production is soaring. Agricultural land is used to raise cattle then any other animal or crops. With the increase in raising cattle, beef and leather production is growing. WWF clearly explains that beef production has increased emissions of green house gases.
WWF states that 25% of global land use and forestry emission is driven by beef production. The includes the conversion of the Amazon in Brazil.
It is important to stay present and stay educated. Our choices don’t only just impact us, but everything else too.
Robyn Lawrence
Featured image courtesy of Kyle Mackie via Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Robyn Lawrence
Currently studying BA Journalism and Media at the University of Leeds. Love writing about nature, all things lifestyle and discussing important topics!