Veganism – A Solution to Climate Change?

Veganism is a philosophy and a way of life defined in the year 1949 as a way to seek an end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and by all other uses involving the exploitation of animal life by man. It also carries much controversy as it impels the majority of non-vegans to alter their meat consumption in the light of Climate Change. Read more about the origin of veganism here   Archived

According to a publication in The Guardian in 2021, journalist Andrew Anthony states there had been a 40% increase in the vegan population by the year 2020, bringing the globally estimated total population to 79 million. In addition, The Economist magazine named 2019 “The Year of the Vegan”. Also last year the World Health Organization recommended a plant-based diet for a healthy life. That endorsement, along with growing concerns about the impact of dairy farming on the environment has created many dialogues on how veganism can combat Climate change. In fact, this ideology has been termed climate veganism.

So, can veganism really reduce the rate of climate change? and if yes, how does that happen? The defenders of veganism have found that climate change provides a new reason to support their cause because many animal-based foods have high greenhouse gas emissions. According to the PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) website, feeding massive amounts of grain and water to farmed animals and then killing them and processing, transporting, and storing their flesh is extremely energy-intensive. Furthermore, forests, which absorb greenhouse gases are cut down in order to supply pastureland and grow crops for farmed animals. Finally, the animals themselves and all the manure that they produce release even more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. Accordingly, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are released into the atmosphere due to animal husbandry.

Animal agriculture is globally the single largest source of methane emissions and that, pound for pound, methane is more than 25 times as effective as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere based on findings of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, animals raised by organic methods emit even more methane than animals on factory farms do according to Vasile Stanescu, a scholar at Mercer University.

Additionally, according to the U.N., the meat, egg, and dairy industries account for an astonishing 65 percent of worldwide nitrous-oxide emissions.

An Oxford University study, published in the journal Climatic Change, shows that meat-eaters are responsible for almost twice as many dietary greenhouse-gas emissions per day as vegetarians and about two and a half times as many as vegans. An article written by the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) on tackling climate change through livestock – A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities suggests that livestock contributes to 14.5% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the world. The remaining emissions are supported by fossil fuels, transport, industrial processes, power generation, waste disposal and treatment, land use and biomass burning, and residential, commercial, and other sources.

Chatham House, an international affair think tank, has called for a carbon tax on meat to help combat the climate crisis. Also, a study at the University of Chicago has shown that you can reduce your carbon footprint more effectively by going vegan than by switching from a conventional car to a hybrid. So many individuals have made the switch in their diet as an individual contribution to battle climate change. Read more about how veganism helps battle climate change here  Archived

Sri Lanka can be considered as one of the most vegan-friendly destinations in the world. The Sri Lankan diet is generally comprised of rice, served with several vegetable curries cooked in coconut milk. Additionally, history adds to this culture deeply influenced by Buddhism.

However, as veganism became a global trend the Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka has taken the initiative to market plant-based food products manufactured within the country. Read more about this here  Archived

Veganism is spreading vastly across the country as people are becoming more conscious about the environment and what they consume. Additionally, many celebrities and famous personalities have started promoting the lifestyle motivating more people to join.

Based on this information veganism can be justified as a plausible method to combat climate change that any citizen in the world can approach.

On the contrary, if the vast majority of the world decided to become vegan, there would be a great demand for vegan food, and the over-exploitation of resources may lead to another crisis in itself. Moreover, food waste accounts for 8-10% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas production globally according to the UN Climate change report in 2019.

Hence, in conclusion, it is important to consume consciously and minimize waste whichever meal choice we decide to embark on.