Save the planet, make wiser food choices

“WHAT you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make,” is the sentiment held by English primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall.

This month, we honour planet Earth with Earth Day on Monday.

The theme, “Protect our Species”, shouldn’t be surprising given that research shows we are facing the greatest rate of species extinction since the dinosaurs. The leading causes of extinction – climate change, deforestation, loss of habitat, unsustainable agriculture, pollution, pesticides and poaching – are linked to human activity. Although large-scale extinction has devastating implications, it’s a symptom of a larger environmental crisis. Critical and urgent change is needed in order “to decrease the risk of irreversible and potentially disastrous shifts in the Earth system”, says the EAT-Lancet Commission, a group of 37 leading scientists from 16 countries who have been studying the effect of human activity on the environment.

The good news coming out of the research is that as we are responsible for the global environmental issues, we also have the power to make the changes needed to reverse the damage.

Across the world, concerned citizens and conservation organisations are calling for their governments to cut back on the use of fossil fuels and asking big business to reduce their environmental impact.

While the efforts are important, the commission says the largest driver of environmental degradation is something that we, as individuals, make choices about daily – the food we eat.

Backed up by a huge volume of research, food is the strongest lever to optimise environmental sustainability.

This is because what we are eating is causing the most damage. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution and habitat destruction. For example, animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, (more than the combined exhaust from all transportation), and up to 91% of Amazon destruction.

The two facts should be enough to encourage us to look at what we’re putting on our plates.

When it comes to conservation organisations, the source of funds and donations often has a large role to play in what messages are prioritised and communicated to the public.

Unfortunately, this is why the vital information surrounding the impact of our food choices on the planet is not always delivered by those we expect to hear it from.

We don’t have to wait for governments and big business to act; we can reduce our environmental footprint by increasing the amount of plantbased food on our plates and reducing animal products.

Even a small decrease in the consumption of meat and dairy makes a big difference. The change is also healthier. As a first step, we can all take action this Earth Day by joining millions of people across the world in increasing our consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, wholegrains, legumes and meat alternatives while cutting back on meat, eggs and dairy.

Gone are the days when vegetarian food tasted dull and boring; more restaurants are offering great veg options, and supermarkets all full of alternatives to meat.

Many people worry that they would miss meat, but alternatives have come a long way. There are plant-based alternatives for chicken-style nuggets, fish, burgers, pies and sausages that are so similar to real meat that many people can’t tell the difference.

It’s not often that there are easy steps to making a big difference to serious problems, but in this case there is at least one; this Earth Day take a step towards a more sustainable lifestyle by reducing your consumption of animal products.

If you aren’t sure where to start, join Meat-Free Mondays, a global movement opting to giving meat a skip on Mondays.