A campaign from the Center for Biological Diversity’s Population and Sustainability Program called Take Extinction Off Your Plate asks eaters to reduce meat consumption to improve both environmental and personal health.
Meat production has tripled between 1980 and 2010 and is expected to double by 2020, according to The Center for Biological Diversity.
According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock production is responsible for 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, agriculture in the United States produces 500 million tons of manure each year, and has polluted 56,000 kilometers (35,000 miles) of rivers across 22 states and groundwater in 17 states, the Center for Biological Diversity reports.
On average, Americans consume about 122 kilograms (270 pounds) of meat per-person each year. The Center recommends replacing meat with a plant-based meal one day each week, which, according to their research can reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than if consumers eat a diet which is completely locally grown.
The Center encourages people to replace at least some of the meat they consume with plant-based foods thereby reducing an individual’s overall environmental footprint, and helping to protect land, water, and animals.
The Center also encourages consumers to spread the word about the campaign by sharing the pledge with friends and contributing to the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
