Live Green Now

Apparently a United Nations report which found that the livestock sector generates 18 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions than transport has inspired musician Paul McCartney to advocate for increased diets of vegetables and less meat.  In his letter released to the UK Press Association he outlines the dramatic effects eating meat has on the planet, including the facts that 70 per cent of former forests in the Amazon have been turned over to grazing and that livestock now use 30 per cent of the entire world's land surface.

 

In his letter McCartney writes that:

 

What I think is especially compelling is that this report should now encourage everybody to ‘do their bit' for the planet... the evidence that the report gives is, frankly, stunning. It points directly to the striking detrimental effects of excessive livestock farming on the environment. It generates 65% of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CO2. Most of this comes from manure.

 

As we head into the holiday season preparing and attending festive dinners it is interesting food for thought to consider McCartney's idea that, "by altering our eating habits people can strike a blow for the environment, our children and the future".

 

(All cited quotes & figures are from Ecorazzi.com, Dec 19)