For the environment, for the animals, and for my personal health

I’m vegetarian because of the diet’s environmental, animal welfare, and health benefits. My driving motivation for being vegetarian surrounds environmentalism. Reducing my eco-footprint through food has long been something I’m deeply passionate about. I’m even doing my thesis on meatless diet communication!

The environment

According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global community has until 2030 to stop the rapid advancement of climate change and avoid increased threats of extreme heat, drought, flooding, and biodiversity loss. If Earth’s temperatures rise by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, billions of people will be exposed to risks related to health, safety, employment, food security, and water supply. However, if anthropogenic warming continues at its current rate, 1.5°C will likely be reached before 2030.

Food systems account for approximately 34% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, roughly one-half of which is due specifically to animal agriculture. GHG emissions from the food sector alone make limiting warming to 1.5°C impossible, even if all other fossil fuel emissions are eliminated. Due predominantly to land use and livestock emissions, meat-based meals have 14 times higher environmental impact than vegan meals. Accordingly, increasing plant-based diets worldwide provides a compelling opportunity to counteract global warming.

Animal welfare

Factory farming is often associated with ethical issues and animal suffering. Conventional types of animal housing lead to discomfort caused by poor air quality, too smooth and often wet floors, lack of stimulus offered by the environment, concentrated feed (leading to boredom), and disease. Some animals are also routinely subjected to interventions, such as beak cutting, tail docking, tooth clipping, and castration.

Moreover, significant areas of forest are cleared for feed crops or pasture space, which contributes to biodiversity loss. Specifically, livestock farming is responsible for approximately 30% of the present global loss of terrestrial biodiversity. This means that eating a plant-forward diet helps protect wildlife and ecosystems.

Personal health

Compared with meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans tend to consume less saturated fat, less cholesterol, more vitamins and minerals, and more dietary fibre. As a result, they're likely to have lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index, all of which are associated with longevity and a reduced risk for many chronic diseases. For instance, research suggests that those who follow a plant-forward diet have lower risks of heart disease, type two diabetes, and cancer.