In theory, there is a simple way to reduce the carbon emissions associated with climate change, and prevent several million deaths at the same time. A 2016 study by Oxford University researchers published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claimed that food-related greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by 70 percent by 2050 if the world’s population adopted a vegan diet. Furthermore, they estimated that this would also result in 8.1 million fewer human deaths for those on such a diet. Eliminating humanity’s consumption of meat and animal products would also save billions of dollars a year in health care costs, the researchers said.
The vegan lifestyle:
- "Vegan" is a dietary term and a lifestyle choice coined by English animal rights advocate Donald Watson in 1944.
- A vegan is a strict vegetarian who also doesn’t eat dairy products, eggs, cheese, or honey. Vegans also avoid animal-related products such as leather, fur, and wool.
- Vegans get protein from several sources, including soy, quinoa, chia, and peas.