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As the international community has (rightfully) expressed outrage over Trump withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, let’s not forget that, while the agreement is a major step in the right direction, it also didn’t go far enough. The fact remains that our collective lifestyle choices, especially our *dietary* choices, are significantly driving climate change. Did you know that, according to the United Nations FAO and other experts, the livestock industry is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire global transportation sector combined? On top of that, the single largest user of land on the planet and the *number one* driver of deforestation is animal agriculture as well. Deforestation is driving loss of habitat and, with it, an alarming loss of species — with scientists concluding that we have already plunged into the “Sixth Mass Extinction” in Earth’s entire history. In addition, the forests are also critical in absorbing and decreasing a large amount of the CO2 in our atmosphere. And, their rapid loss (in large part driven by raising animals for food) is further exacerbating and accelerating climate change. While solving climate change requires action on several fronts, it cannot be timely or adequately addressed without an urgent and mass global shift away from animal foods. So, if you are upset by the U.S. pulling out of the Paris agreement, should you not also be moved enough to take personal responsibility in your own life and withdraw your participation from one of the most environmentally destructive industries on the planet? It’s incredibly easy to do, simply by going vegan. As no small added bonus, a transition away from animal foods would benefit our environment in numerous other ways as well, help protect fresh water and food security for generations to come, reduce chronic disease in our society and save billions in healthcare costs annually, and (of course) withdraw support for an industry that needlessly inflicts immense suffering and death on countless billions of sentient animals every year. So, if you are not doing so already, please familiarize yourself with these issues and start living vegan today — for the planet, for your own health, and for the animals. |