Global warming is being fueled by the high consumption of meat and dairy products of people in the Western countries, says a major report on land use and climate change. However the scientists and officials who discussed the report did not give a blanket call for everyone to eat vegetarian or vegan food only. Instead they said that it is possible to feed more people by making use of less land if meat eating is reduced by individuals.

This extensive report was prepared by 107 scientists for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations. The report said that more of the carbon emitted by humans could be stored by land if it is used more effectively.

The recommendations of the report were accepted and given a final shape after discussions on the report in Geneva, Switzerland.

“We’re not telling people to stop eating meat. In some places people have no other choice. But it’s obvious that in the West we’re eating far too much,” said Prof Pete Smith, an environmental scientist from Aberdeen University, UK.

The report also urged immediate and intensive action for preventing damage and desertification because both of these add on to climate change. The report also issued a warning for those governments that have drawn up plans for planting and growing trees only to burn them to produce electricity because according to scientists, it would compete with food production except it was implemented in a very limited scale.

The basis for human society and the global economy is the land surface of the Earth and the manner in which it is used. However humans are using land in such dramatic ways that it is being reshaped which include through the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The report also states that the security of our food supply is threatened by climate change. Crops and livestock would be impacted by increasing temperatures, more rainfall and more extreme weather events. However global warming is also the result of food production. About a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions is accounted for by agriculture and forestry. The methane gas the animals produce because of livestock rearing also adds on to the global warming. This is compounded by deforestation to expand pastures.

For many vegetarians and vegans, the environmental impact of meat production assumes significant importance. A UK-based group called #NoBeef lobbies caterers to take beef and lamb off student menus.

And gaining popularity in the United States is vegan meat burger patties that is produced form processed plant-based meat substitutes which tastes and like meat and has a meat like texture because of heme which is an iron-rich compound.

“A reduction in meat consumption is essential if we are to meet climate targets,” said Peter Stevenson, from Compassion in World Farming.

However there is growing beef consumption in some parts of the world such as in China despite efforts by the Chinese government to promote traditional diets.

(Adapted from BBC.com)

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