A growing number of people are adopting a plant-based diet on environmental grounds. 

Animal agriculture is one of the most environmentally destructive industries, being responsible for at least 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. This figure has been disputed, however, with many estimating it’s much higher.

Livestock farming is also a leading cause of deforestation. This is due to the fact that vast amounts of land are required to keep animals and grow their feed. It is thought that animal agriculture is responsible for around 91 percent of Amazon destruction.

Animal farming has also been identified as the primary cause of biodiversity loss. This is one of the most significant environmental problems we face. A UN report from 2021 found that we need to move toward “plant-heavy” dietary patterns to address it. 

Adobe Stock Animal agriculture is catastrophic for the environment

Livestock farming is also a leading cause of resource depletion, as copious amounts of grains and fresh water are required to sustain the animals. It is thought that farmed animals use up around a third of the world’s water. And while many people link vegan soy consumption to Amazon deforestation, it is actually mostly eaten by farmed animals. Around 77 percent of the world’s soy is fed to livestock. Meanwhile, only seven percent is made into tofu, soy milk, and other human food products.