{"id":135390,"date":"2023-12-12T11:17:40","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T11:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/?p=135390"},"modified":"2023-12-12T11:17:40","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T11:17:40","slug":"going-vegetarian-only-slashes-your-carbon-footprint-by-4-4-un-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluemull.com\/lifestyle\/going-vegetarian-only-slashes-your-carbon-footprint-by-4-4-un-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Going vegetarian only slashes your carbon footprint by 4.4%, UN says"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1> Ditch the nut roast and enjoy your turkey in peace this Christmas! Going vegetarian is not as good for the climate as campaigners claim &#8211; and only slashes your carbon footprint by 4.4%, UN report reveals<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Swapping animal for plant protein only produces &#8216;marginal&#8217; emission cuts<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Making animal farming more efficient could reduce emissions by up to a third<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For the environmentalists among us, a plate of turkey might once have come with a side of climate-induced guilt.<\/p>\n<p>However, meat lovers will be in high spirits this Christmas\u00a0as a new report reveals an all-veg diet isn&#8217;t as eco-friendly as once thought.<\/p>\n<p>In their new UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report, the UN says that\u00a0swapping out meat for plant-based protein decreases your carbon footprint by as little as four per cent.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;The expected reduction in the middle-income countries is marginal (4.4 percent),&#8217; the report said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;With increasing emissions in some countries due to increased consumption of nuts, fruits and vegetables, partly grown in greenhouses.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/12\/10\/78859389-12853819-It_might_be_time_to_put_the_turkey_back_on_the_table_as_the_UN_s-a-28_1702376386954.jpg\" height=\"351\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>For the environmentalists among us, a plate of turkey might once have come with a side of climate-induced guilt. However, meat lovers will be in festive spirits this Christmas as the UN reveals an all-veg diet isn&#8217;t as eco-friendly as once thought (stock image)\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>READ MORE:\u00a0&#8216;Tis the season to brie VEGAN? MailOnline tests plant-based Christmas cheeses<\/h3>\n<p>The report used an advanced modelling tool to study the sources of greenhouse gases in the production of animal products.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, the UN and a number of climate campaign groups have called for a move away from a diet rich in meat, eggs, and dairy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, this latest study found that in middle-income countries, such as India or China, cutting out meat would only result in a 4.4 per cent drop in greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n<p>For those in high-income countries, such as the UK or US, making the change would cut greenhouse gas emissions by between 13 and 17 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Across the 37 countries studied in the report, a complete change would result in a two to five per cent reduction in emissions associated with the entire global food system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/12\/10\/78859391-12853819-Previous_studies_oversimplify_the_benefits_and_plausibility_for_-a-29_1702376386981.jpg\" height=\"425\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Previous studies &#8216;oversimplify&#8217; the benefits and plausibility for most of the world changing to a plant-based diet, making farming more efficient would yield bigger reductions than swapping (stock image)<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/12\/10\/78858295-12853819-Farming_animals_produces_greenhouse_gas_emissions_at_each_stage_-a-31_1702376386983.jpg\" height=\"349\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Farming animals produces greenhouse gas emissions at each stage of production, but particularly as direct emissions from the methane produced by cattle\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>What is the climate impact of meat?\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>In 2015, livestock farming produced the equivalent of 6.2 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions in various gasses.<\/p>\n<p>This made up 12 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions and 40 per cent of food production emissions.<\/p>\n<p>Without intervention, this is forecast to increase to 9.2 billion tonnes by 2050.<\/p>\n<p>Cattle produce 62 per cent of livestock&#8217;s total emissions.<\/p>\n<p>Methane produced by ruminants like cows makes up about 60% of meat production emissions.<\/p>\n<p>The rest comes from producing fertilizers and feed, transport, and changing land use.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The report&#8217;s authors write that &#8216;some studies may oversimplify&#8217; the climate benefits and plausibility of switching to plant-based diets.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They say that these recommendations assume &#8216;an immediate, universal dietary shift, neglecting the nutritional challenges and the financial constraints that may render such changes unfeasible particularly for the world\u2019s poorest.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The report points out that there are wide disparities between the carbon cost of different production methods.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Replacing meat with calorically equivalent greenhouse vegetables or out-of-season fruits flown from afar could potentially reverse many GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions offsets,&#8217; the authors explain.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As global populations grow, demand for meat products is expected to increase in much of the world, even as demand stays level or even decreases in Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The researchers predict that by 2050, demand for animal products will increase by 20 per cent globally.<\/p>\n<p>Without any change to farming techniques, this would lead to greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 9.1 billion tonnes of C02 per year.<\/p>\n<p>However, by improving the efficiency of animal rearing methods, greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by up to 30 per cent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The report found that efficiency gains in dairy farming alone contribute between 38 and 46 per cent of this total emissions reduction by 2050.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/12\/10\/78858291-12853819-This_graph_shows_the_emissions_intensity_of_producing_one_kg_of_-a-30_1702376386982.jpg\" height=\"331\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>This graph shows the emissions intensity of producing one kg of edible protein, with darker colours representing higher intensity<\/p>\n<h3>READ MORE:\u00a0Don&#8217;t say vegan: People less likely to buy any food when labelled as &#8216;plant-based&#8217;\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p>&#8216;Solutions such as improving animal health, breeding practices, reducing food loss and waste, and directly targeting GHG emissions have the potential to provide multiple benefits for people and the planet,&#8217; said Ms Maria Helena Semedo,\u00a0Deputy Director-General for the Food and Agriculture Organization.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;But they require investments in the sector to narrow efficiency gaps, while meeting an increased global demand for animal protein.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>The researchers also considered the possibility of replacing animal protein with plant-based &#8216;meats&#8217; and lab-grown alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>Other UN reports argue that meat alternatives could feed humans more sustainably.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Professor Mario Herrero says: &#8216;Novel alternatives to animal-sourced foods can potentially play an important role in shifting our in ways that are more sustainable, healthier and less harmful to animals, humans and the planet.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>However, this latest report says that the climate impact of lab-grown meat is not yet fully understood and depends largely on the type of energy used.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the report&#8217;s authors write that: &#8216;Animal\u2019s roles in providing financial security, status and social value beyond its food value may be jeopardised, further causing inequalities between high- and low-income countries.&#8217;<\/p>\n<h3>COULD INSECTS BE THE NEXT &#8216;SUPERFOOD&#8217;?<\/h3>\n<p>Edible insects have been touted as the next &#8216;superfood&#8217;, with the creepy crawlies packed full of protein, nutrients, potassium, magnesium and three times more fatty acids than omega-3 in salmon.<\/p>\n<p>Insects contain more than twice as much protein per 100g as meat and fish, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.<\/p>\n<p>Crickets are the most widely cultivated insects for the human diet across the world and are considered the \u2018gateway bug\u2019 for people who choose to eat insects.<\/p>\n<p>They, along with other insects are touted as highly nutritious and much better for the planet &#8211; environmentally and financially &#8211; than traditional livestock, due to the comparatively efficient rate at which they convert feed into body mass.<\/p>\n<p>The global population is predicted to top nine billion by 2050, putting enormous pressure on the environment, conventional food sources and farming techniques. Insects could help meet demand for food.<\/p>\n<p>Plenty of people in non-Western countries already eat insects regularly. They are very efficient at converting vegetation into edible protein and full of vitamins and minerals.<\/p>\n<p>Previous studies have found that four crickets provide as much calcium as a glass of milk, and dung beetles, by weight, contain more iron than beef.<\/p>\n<p>Farming insects generates one-tenth of the methane produced by farming traditional meat sources, and it uses comparatively little water, making the process better for the environment.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sciencetech\/article-12853819\/Ditch-nut-roast-enjoy-turkey-peace-Christmas-Going-vegetarian-not-good-climate-campaigners-claim-slashes-carbon-footprint-4-4-report-reveals.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ditch the nut roast and enjoy your turkey in peace this Christmas! 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