Saving the planet by going vegan
The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new greenhouse-gas emission regulations for airplanes. However, critics are concerned that these limits — which apparently were set by, and have already been met by, the aviation industry — will not do enough to combat climate change. It appears this debate is only just “taking off,” so until legislators “land” on a compromise, we can significantly reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions another way: by going vegan.
Figures from The New York Times show air travel accounts for 2.5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Agriculture, meanwhile, is responsible for 26 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions, and 58 percent of these food emissions come from animal-derived ingredients. If we were all to go vegan, we would significantly reduce our emissions of potent greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide, as well as carbon dioxide. We would also relieve our air and waterways from toxic, antibiotic-laden animal waste; promote biodiversity; and maintain healthy forests.
Humans thrive on low-fat, high-fiber, vitamin-rich vegan foods, which protect sentient animals from a cruel life and death and do not cost us the Earth.
JESSICA BELLAMY
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, Virginia