The production of meat (especially livestock) creates more greenhouse gasses than ALL the planes and other forms of transport put together. - 2006 UN FAO Report

Switching to a vegetarian diet reduces more greenhouse gasses than switching from a SUV to a hybrid vehicle. - 2005 University of Chicago Study

*---Destruction of Rainforests---*

Livestock raising is the #1 human cause of deforestation in Latin America, which means a loss in forests which otherwise absorb and REDUCE CO2 in our atmosphere.

Deforestation is the #2 human cause of CO2, behind fossil fuels. In the Amazon, some 70% of former forests have been turned over to grazing and soybean feed for cattle.

*---Methane, a stronger greenhouse gas---*

Not only do cow farms emit millions of tons of CO2, but the U.S Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Animal Agriculture (including manure) is the #1 source of methane worldwide caused by humans (28%) and that "methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2 over a 100-year period."

*---Conclusion---*

With more prosperity and people in the world, the impact of our consumption habits will have a greater accumulated effect, so it is critical that we understand the environmental effects of the animal agriculture (meat/dairy) industry so that more of us consider a reduction in meat and dairy products.

At the current consumption rate of meat/dairy products (which might double by 2050), we will rapidly increase global warming by increasing methane, CO2 output and deforestation.

Group created: December 10th 2006 (read less)

The production of meat (especially livestock) creates more greenhouse gasses than ALL the planes and other forms of transport put together. - 2006 UN FAO Report

Switching to a vegetarian diet reduces more greenhouse gasses than switching from a SUV to a hybrid vehicle. - 2005 University of Chicago Study

*---Destruction of Rainforests---*

Livestock raising is the #1 human cause of deforestation in Latin America, which means a loss in forests which otherwise absorb and REDUCE CO2 in our... (read more)