Let’s Protect Forests and Vital Habitats
The global demand for meat requires vast amounts of land, driving the destruction of vital forests and habitats. Yet plants, animals, and microorganisms play essential roles in maintaining our planet’s health—and we’re destroying them at an alarming rate just to raise more animals for meat. When trees are removed, not only is their stored carbon released, but their ability to absorb future CO₂ is also lost.
80% or more of Amazon deforestation is driven by cattle ranching
Let’s Save Water
We can save a substantial amount of water by eating more plant-based foods. To produce one hamburger requires approximately the same amount of water used by taking 27 showers - almost one month's worth of showers. In contrast, producing the same amount of vegetables requires less water than is used in a single shower. That's a big difference.
Approximately 1/3 of all freshwater used by humans worldwide goes to livestock, while only about 1/30 is used in homes.
Let’s Reduce Pollution and Improve Public Health
Industrial-scale livestock operations, also known as factory farms, create massive manure lagoons — some as large as 15 football fields. These lagoons can leak or overflow during heavy rainfall, causing catastrophic damage to our groundwater and rivers, while emitting harmful gasses like methane and ammonia that pollute the air and endanger nearby communities.
Would you want a manure lagoon in your community?
Let’s Cut Harmful Gases
Raising animals for food releases methane and nitrous oxide — gasses much more potent than CO₂, which comes from burning fossil fuels like gasoline. While CO₂ can stay in the atmosphere for centuries, methane only lasts about 12 years. So, by eating less meat and dairy, we can quickly reduce these harmful gases and help slow global warming. That's good news!
Transitioning to eating whole, plant-based foods can reduce your carbon footprint more than cutting your car use in half.