8 reasons you should reduce your meat consumption

November 1 is World Vegan Day and while World Animal Protection is not a vegan or vegetarian organization, we do understand the huge effect that eating less meat can have. Not sure why? Keep reading.

1. It helps fight climate change

Factory farming is one of the leading causes of climate change and deforestation. The truth is, the factory farms emit more greenhouse gases than all the transportation in the world combined. We can do our part to combat climate change by simply cutting back on the amount of low welfare meat we consume. Without doing so, it’ll be nearly impossible to reach the goals set by the Paris Agreement.

2. It helps farmed animals

Of the more than 70 billion animals farmed annually, 50 billion of them spend their lives on factory farms. They are treated more like machines, than living, breathing, feeling animals. They endure short, miserable lives and are often confined together in cages, crates or pens which prevents them from engaging in natural behavior. Reducing your meat consumption will make a huge difference to the lives of these animals and free-up resources to help move to higher welfare production.

3. It helps workers

From slave labor to sexual abuse, workers on factory farms are in many cases treated just as cruelly as the animals. These workers are often subjected to countless workplace hazards, including life-threatening injuries, respiratory illnesses, PTSD, and exposure to dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria. You can help stand up for these exploited workers by reducing your meat consumption and withdrawing financial support to the companies profiting from poor labor practices.

4. You’ll save water

Factory farms are highly water intensive, with animal agriculture using a staggering 56 percent of water in the United States. Food Tank reports that it requires 1,799 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, and one pound of pork takes 576 gallons of water.

5. It helps your health

Countless studies show the benefits of eating plants over animal-based proteins. From reducing cancer rates and heart disease, to showing an increased overall lifespan, by consuming more plant-based foods you’ll be helping to improve your own health and will set a good example for the health of others around you.

6. It protects wildlife

Grazing land and feed crops now use more than one-third of Earth’s landmass. With this rapid loss of habitat it’s no wonder we’re losing critical species at alarming rates and experts warn a mass extinction is on its way. By eating less meat you’ll be helping protect wildlife from going the way of the dodo and dinosaurs.

7. It helps fight hunger

There are nearly a billion starving people on the planet, while it takes 16 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of beef. It’s clear as day, by reducing your meat consumption you can help alleviate the waste associated with factory farming.

8. It’s easy and delicious

Plant-based foods are already here and more delicious and accessible than ever. If you’re on the go, try the Impossible Whopper at Burger King or the Beyond Burger at Denny’s!

Change starts with you. If we want to protect the planet, our health, workers and animals, we need to dramatically reduce our meat consumption. That means switching to plant-based alternatives and to other protein sources such as ‘clean meat’. Pledge to eat less meat today!