One of the ways to address global warming is to reduce the amount of meat that is consumed. Aside from any ethical considerations about eating animals there are environmental issues that impact the climate. Plant based meals are increasing in popularity which can only be a good thing.
Beef cattle have the greatest impact owing to the amount of methane that they burp. Methane is actually more damaging than CO2.
This shouldn’t just be for individuals to consider but companies need to be involved also. The increase in fast food burger restaurants has enormous impact on the problem.
Plant based meals on restaurant menus
Some companies are permanently adding plant based items to their menus in all locations, and also companies have spoken publicly in their annual sustainability reports about the benefits of plant-based shopping. More businesses have started to realize that this can be an advantage to their business.
Businesses should set goals to reduce the amount of meat they are purchasing and replace it with higher proportions of plant-based protein and other meat alternatives on their menus. This will go a long way in transforming the food system into a more humane and sustainable one.
It is definitely prudent for people to reduce the amount of meat they eat if they have concerns about climate change and the health of our planet.
The amount of meat we are producing and consuming worldwide at this point in our food system is simply unsustainable.
Meat vs plant based menus
The meat industry is based on a global supply chain of feed crop inputs that have greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental implications along this supply chain, all to feed the billions of farm animals, the billions of cows, pigs, chickens, and other poultry we raised.
In a system that simply takes human edible crops and a resource-intensive system, and introduces them into animals to produce animal-derived proteins for human consumption.
There is no doubting the fact that if we remove the middle step from this system it could have major benefits to the environment. Rather than feeding animals with the plants, why don’t we eat them ourselves. Radical idea for some determined devoted meat eaters but the increase in vegetarians is encouraging.
Even those people who don’t want to eliminate meat from their diets are beginning to increase the amount of plant based meals in their diet. For may people this often begins with meat free Mondays. Once people find that vegetarian meals can be both delicious, filling and economical they hopefully increase the times they are chosen.
Plant based meals are good for the climate but are also good for our own health. We can all take responsibility for the impact we have on the climate. As more businesses including fast food chains get involved we have hope for the future.
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