Going vegan won't save the environment

[bonniekins]

In North America, the impact of meat production doesn't have a fraction of the environmental/carbon impact that blanket global statistics suggest. Yes, a meatless monday can help in a tiny way to reduce carbon footprint. But if you really want to make a difference to the environment, pay attentino to how your food is grown and raised. Pay attention to sustainability practices (real ones, not just the lame ones in marketing campaigns). Plus, look at the packaging you're bringing home. Stop buying stuff that is overly packaged. Use reusable produce bags. Look at your trash and see what you shouldn't be getting anymore. That will have a way better impact than going vegan
(by the way, I'm not anti-vegan. If you are vegan and have made the choice because you want to be kinder to animals, if it's part of your religion, or if you've decided because of anything else, go for it! My statement just means that this one decision alone isn't enough to save the environment).

[ChristySmiles]

Isn't beef terrible for the environment? I thought it was the same as driving a car?

[Nelly]

Isn't beef terrible for the environment? I thought it was the same as driving a car?

Not in North America. As long as you get your beef and dairy from the US or even Canada, it's really very low emissions. Other parts of the world, like developing countries, are the ones where the stats are like that. Research is misquoted all the time because if you look at the global stats it doesn't take into account that it's a regional issue.

[Mike]

The methane cows produce is already in the air and the plants. That's where cows get their food. Fossil fuels are extracting locked greenhouse gasses that wouldn't affect the soil, water and air if they were left alone. The cows aren't releasing anything that wasn't already there in the soil, water or air.

[lia]

Every little bit counts. Methane is very polluting! I think if we all cut back, even if we didn't go totally vegan, it would help out.