Here at Little Soap HQ we’ve always advocated for a vegan lifestyle, because we truly believe that it is the most healthy, sustainable way to eat. But there is actually so much more to this way of life, and with the issues that are facing us today there are so many reasons why more and more people are making the switch from meat eating. This week we want to look a little more closely at the impact a vegan lifestyle has on the planet, how making simple changes can help in the fight against climate change, and how you can set in motion a chain of events that will lead to a better you, and a better planet.
Humankind’s greatest challenge
A 2014 report by the United Nations (UN) stated that climate change is now having an impact on every continent on the planet. It affects human health. agriculture. water supplies, eco systems. It is a global issue that requires our attention NOW.
There are things that we can do. We can switch to more energy efficient cars (or walk more!) and we can use energy saving lightbulbs too. But we’re at the point now where all of the smaller things we’re doing just aren’t enough. We aren’t making enough of an impact, and it’s time we faced up to humankind’s greatest challenge.
This week, the world is reeling somewhat following Greta Thunberg’s powerful speech in New York, and we couldn’t be more proud of the work she and many other young activists are doing. So what are you doing? Yes, the future belongs to the next generation but it’s up to us to help make sure it’s a future they can thrive in.
Could a vegan lifestyle help?
According to a recent UN report, the simple answer is yes, a plant based diet can have a major impact on the rate at which our planet is declining. The report, which detailed land use and climate change, stated that high consumption of meat and dairy produce directly fuels global warming. So how has this conclusion been reached?
How exactly does eating meat and dairy products impact climate change?
The processes that needs be followed in order to produce animal and dairy produce for human consumption is highly energy-intensive. The
farmed animals are fed enormous amounts of grain and water. They are then killed, transported and their flesh is stored. Forests are cut down to supply pastureland and to grow crops for the farmed animals. The animals themselves produce harmful greenhouse gases that are released into our atmosphere- carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide all combine to contribute towards climate change globally. “Globally, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all the world’s transportation systems combined.” (Peta.org)
Experts agree that adopting a plant-based diet today is one of the most effective things we can do to combat climate change. If more people turned their backs on meat and dairy, global farmland use could be reduced by more than 75%; currently even meat and dairy products that are considered to be of the lowest impact still cause more harm to the environment than the least sustainable vegetable crops.
Make the switch
Our best advice if you want to make the switch to a vegan lifestyle? Just go for it. Do it. Stop funding meat and dairy production. If the demand is not there, the supply will reduce and if we all stop consuming these products we will be sending a clear message: our planet is precious, we care and we want to protect it.
