The environmental damage caused by the billions of animals bred, raised, and slaughtered for food every year is immense. The United Nations has identified animal agriculture as one of the major contributors to many of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. These include climate change, biodiversity loss, freshwater depletion, rainforest destruction, desertification, air and water contamination, acid rain, soil degradation, and habitat loss. Vast tracts of forest are cleared to cultivate crops used as feed for farmed animals. The methane generated by these animals represents one of the largest contributors to global warming, exceeding the emissions produced by all forms of transportation combined. In addition, the enormous quantities of waste generated by animal farming frequently enter rivers, lakes, and oceans, creating serious pollution problems.
Rather than using crops to feed animals that are later consumed by humans, a far more efficient and environmentally responsible approach would be to consume plant foods directly. This would allow food production systems to support significantly more people, conserve large quantities of freshwater, contribute to mitigating climate change, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and free extensive areas of land for reforestation and ecosystem restoration.
“Producing meat turns vegetable protein very inefficiently into animal protein, using large amounts of energy and water in the process. Ruminant animals also produce large amounts of methane, a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Meat production is a serious contribution to greenhouse gas pollution and hence global warming.”
— Professor Ian Lowe
Today, many people understand the importance of making environmentally responsible choices in their everyday lives. They conserve water and electricity, drive fuel-efficient vehicles, and support renewable energy sources. However, one of the simplest and most impactful actions individuals can take to reduce their environmental footprint is adopting a vegan diet.
Veganics is an approach to organic farming that seeks to avoid the use and exploitation of animals wherever possible. It also promotes ecological recovery by encouraging farming methods that replicate the biodiversity and balance found in natural ecosystems.
Quick Facts
- Water associated with food production accounts for approximately 90% of the average Australian’s total water footprint. Individuals following a vegan diet use less than one-third of the water consumed by the average Australian. [1]
- Approximately 67% of Australia’s water resources are allocated to agriculture, while only around 9% are used directly by households. [2]
- In Australia, 43% of agricultural water is dedicated to producing pasture and hay for grazing animals raised for the meat and dairy industries. By comparison, only 10% is used to grow fruits and vegetables intended for direct human consumption. [2]
- Producing one kilogram of beef requires roughly twenty times more water—between 50,000 and 100,000 litres—than producing one kilogram of rice, fruit, or vegetables, which generally requires around 2,500 litres. [3]
- On average, approximately 800 litres of water are needed to produce one litre of dairy milk, nearly four times the amount required to produce one litre of soy milk. [4][5]
- The world’s cattle consume enough food to nourish approximately 8.7 billion people, a figure that exceeds the entire human population. [6]
- Research conducted by the CSIRO and the University of Queensland found that animal agriculture is responsible for approximately 92% of land degradation in Australia. [7]
- Over a twenty-year period, animal agriculture can be linked to around 50% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and more than 50% of global emissions when broader climate impacts are considered. [7][8]
- Animal agriculture consumes more protein and calories than it ultimately produces for human consumption. [9]
- Animal agriculture is considered the leading driver of global species decline and biodiversity loss. [10]
- A vegan diet requires substantially less energy than a diet centered on animal products and therefore contributes far less to air pollution, environmental acidification, oil-related impacts, habitat destruction, and climate change. [9]
By choosing a vegan lifestyle, individuals can make a meaningful contribution to environmental protection while also helping to reduce harm to the countless animals that share our planet.