Mia Canderan
Cassidy Picken
English 100-27
Dec 5, 2019
Veganism and its Effect on the Climate
Is veganism really affecting our planet in a positive way? Veganism is on the rise and global warming is too. One of the main causes for climate change is, in fact, the global food system. This includes the utilization of water and land, and pollution from pesticides and fertilizers. Another significant cause for climate change is the high rate of emissions released into the atmosphere. These emissions are a product of methane and carbon dioxide, and animal produce is a very large reason for these being released into the atmosphere. Cows for example, release methane gas. The consumption of animal produce has always been in high demand, however, now that veganism is a popular diet, it is commonly labeled as a healthier and more sustainable alternative that is better for the earth. Veganism is becoming increasingly popular among people, especially via social media. For example, in January of 2018, approximately 150,000 people attempted to veto eating animal products for a month, in which they coined the term “Veganuary” . According to The Vegan Society, from 2014 to 2018, the number of people that went Vegan had skyrocketed. The population of vegans in Great Britain had gone from 150,000 to 600,000 in just those four years (Henderson, “Why veganism isn’t as environmentally friendly as you might think”) and a YouGov analysis shows that the amount of vegans and vegetarians will continue to increase. An approximated 7 percent of the british population will become vegan one year later according to BBC (“Vegan v flexitarian”). It seems as though Instagram and Twitter are popularizing veganism in a way that makes it more about how pretty the food looks or feels. There is a lack of research here, and a minority of these people are informed about where the food is coming from and its environmental impact. By not eating animal products, there is a need for dairy and protein replacements. Knowing what happens behind the scenes is important. There are benefits and negative effects of supporting dairy and protein substitutions. The matter comes down to if being vegan really reduces the rate of Greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere.
There must be a significant reason that the world’s population is slowly turning vegan. In the academic journal, “A nutritional comparison and production perspective: Reducing the environmental footprint of the future”, S.U.K Rohmer et al, claims that a plant-based diet has a better impact on the climate . Their research shows that there are more environmentally friendly alternatives to the consumption and production of food. It also touches on the production system and sourcing of products, such as cow’s meat and dairy. According to this journal, the food system is responsible for approximately 20-30% of global warming from Greenhouse Gas emissions. Beef and dairy are two of the leading products that release these emissions into the atmosphere. Scientific studies have shown that different diets impact the environment in different ways depending on the usage of land, and the emissions from Greenhouse Gases. The production system behind food products is the reason they are affecting the environment, and not the products themselves. Acknowledging the fact that there are a large amount of vegan alternatives, not every one of those products are affecting the environment in a positive manner. However, if a person with a vegan diet does their research, they could decipher which of the dietary replacements do not release Greenhouse Gases into the atmosphere and therefore support the alternatives with low environmental impact. It is in this case that being a vegan is beneficial to the planet. Despite the issues that may arise with the choice of alternatives, by taking meat and dairy out of a person’s diet, 73% of their carbon footprint could be reduced, according to researchers at the University of Oxford (Poore and Nemecek). Although cutting out meat and dairy products is better for the climate, it is important not to shy away from nutritional needs.
By not eating animal products, it is vital to replace dairy and protein elements, as meat and dairy were originally the main sources for crucial vitamins such as calcium, zinc, iron, and protein. This automatically obligates vegans to find substitutes in order to get the nutrients they need. Some substitutions, however, can be detrimental to the environment. Some affecting it positively, and some negatively. It is important to know which vegan alternatives have the biggest affects. There is a diverse selection of dairy, protein, or fat replacements that a vegan can choose from. Dairy-free milk based from plants, grains or nuts, for example has taken over the milk market by 10 percent. The amount of different dairy free milk options are incredible. Stores provide milk made from peas, coconuts, quinoa, oats, hemp, soy, cashews, and rice. The most popular dairy replacement, however, is almond milk, which also happens to be the worst for the environment. Sustainability plays an important role in selling these products, however, this is where almond milk does not succeed. Growing almonds requires a huge amount of water. It also uses fertilizers and pesticides, which causes pollution. Jim Richards, the CEO of the brand Milkadamia, stated that “If you’re going to talk about almonds—every one is on life support” (Gustin, “Cows vs. Nuts”). Almond milk is said to be just as unsustainable as dairy milk. It does not help that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, from 2011 to 2016, the sale of almond milk had increased by 250%. On the other hand, cow’s milk had decreased by 37% since the 1970s (Gustin, “Inside Climate News”). In order to be a vegan and positively contribute to climate change, supporting alternatives like the mass production of almond milk is not the answer.
If every person on the planet were to become vegan, what would happen and in what way would it affect the planet? A University of Oxford study suggests the following: If everyone was vegan, 19 percent of freshwater usage, transportation, and filtration would reduce, as it uses an immense amount of energy. Greenhouse gas emissions from food production would reduce 49 percent, as well as the pollution from fertilisers. Land used for food production would also drop by 76 percent. In order to feed and pasture animals, land is subject to deforestation and this releases carbon, therefore if there was not any desire for this agriculture, it would benefit climate change (Poore et al). Unfortunately, the world has not fully turned against animal products and it remains that 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by livestock according to The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Eating vegan, however, may not be much better for the climate depending on a person’s choice of food within the diet. In the academic journal, “Contribution of different life cycle stages to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with three balanced dietary patterns” by Sara Corrado et al, it touches on that switching to an omnivorous, vegetarian or vegan diet is better for the environment in regard to food consumption. However, it also explores the fact that food production is associated with greenhouse gas emissions. The journal concludes that cooking and waste is based on the consumer, which is associated with the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This determines a person’s carbon footprint.
Veganism will continue to dominate social media and the lives of many, however, it is crucial that if a person is becoming vegan for the sake of the future, they know the effects. It is important, for example, that they know which dairy alternatives make the lowest environmental impact. Perhaps trying Milkadamia rather than almond milk would create less of a footprint, as some products require more energy or water to grow than that of animal produce. Knowing where the vegetables and fruits are coming from is important as well, because it may be better to shop locally. Avocados, for example, are in very high demand. Because of their sudden widespread popularity, Kenya had been exporting them in mass numbers. Due to their supply being at risk, they had to stop exporting them in 2018. Being vegan comes with many responsibilities, as one must substitute the vital nutrients that dairy and meat would provide with products that do not contribute to global warming. Out of the many things that people can do to help the climate crisis, veganism could make a great impact- if it is done right.
Works Cited
Corrado, Sara, et al. “Contribution of Different Life Cycle Stages to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Three Balanced Dietary Patterns.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 660, Apr. 2019, pp. 622–630. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.267.
Gustin, Georgina, et al. “Cows vs. Nuts: Who Gets to Be Called Milk, and Are They Climate Friendly?” InsideClimate News, 8 Nov. 2018, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24012018/almond-soy-milk-non-dairy-climate-change-impact.
Henderson, Emma. “Why Being Vegan Isn’t as Environmentally Friendly as You Might Think.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 29 Jan. 2018, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veganism-environment-veganuary-friendly-food-diet-damage-hodmedods-protein-crops-jack-monroe-a8177541.html.
Petter, Olivia. “Going Vegan Is ‘Single Biggest Way’ to Reduce Our Impact on the Planet, Study Finds.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 29 Aug. 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/veganism-environmental-impact-planet-reduced-plant-based-diet-humans-study-a8378631.html.
Rohmer, S. U. K., et al. “A Nutritional Comparison and Production Perspective: Reducing the Environmental Footprint of the Future.” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 196, Sept. 2018, pp. 1407–1417. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.125.
Spratt, Vicky. “Science Says Being Vegetarian Is Worse For Environment Than Eating Meat.” Grazia, Bauer Media Group, 16 Dec. 2015, graziadaily.co.uk/life/real-life/science-says-vegetarian-worse-environment-eating-meat/.
“Vegan v Flexitarian – Which Will Save the Planet?” BBC Food, BBC, 27 Aug. 2019, ww.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/vegan_vs_flexitarian.