It has been estimated by the UK’s Food Climate Research Network that the meat industry generates nearly 1/5 of man-made greenhouse gases globally [1], which is even greater than the transport industry. Livestock production is considered to account for around half of these emissions, and the more meat we produce and eat then the bigger the carbon footprint will grow. Meat consumption has quadrupled and poultry consumption has increased 10 fold since 1961 [2], so the problem is only growing. So much so, the United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has decided that the livestock sector is “one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global”. Therefore Meat Free Mondays is just a small thing you can do that makes a big difference, and with celebrities such Paul McCartney, Chris Martin and Sheryl Crow backing it, who’s to argue?
What is a Meat Free Monday?
It’s just how it sounds. Just devote one day a week to not eating meat – it doesn’t need to be Monday! Meat Free Monday suggest that benefits will be greatest if you also avoid, or keep to a minimum, your use of dairy as well. If you need some inspiration, check out http://www.supportmfm.org/recipes/ for some interesting meat free recipes.
Why do it?
As Paul McCartney says “having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once. For instance it not only addresses pollution, but better health, the ethical treatment of animals, global hunger and community and political activism”. A low meat diet (defined as 70g of beef and 325g of chicken and eggs per week) can help to reduce how much we need to spend to help tackle climate change – around $40 trillion globally by 2050 – by 54% [3]. Cutting out out meat altogether could cut the costs by up to 70%, and a vegan diet would cut up to 80%. The group Compassion in World Farming estimates that if the average UK household halved its meat consumption, then this would cut more emissions than cutting car use in half.
Some general benefits:
- Less pollution
- Making a political statement
- Alleviating world hunger
- Better health
- Protecting animal rights
Some meaty facts:
- EU livestock production accounts for 15% of greenhouse gases and 8.5% in the UK.
- 40 calories of fossil fuel energy goes into every calorie of feed lot beef whereas one calorie of plant-based protein only requires 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy.
- 634 gallons of fresh water is required to produce on 5.2 ounce (147g) beef burger whereas the same quantity of tofu only requires 143 gallons.
[1] http://www.supportmfm.org/resources_mfm/downloads/MFMFacts.pdf
