US strikes in Somalia killed ‘key’ ISIL figures, says regional government
(Credit: Javier Hirschfeld/ BBC/ Getty Images)
There are some surprising impacts of cutting out meat, even for a short period, which can carry on well beyond the end of abstinence.
It is widely understood that livestock have a heavy impact on the climate and research indicates that switching to a plant-based diet is one of the most impactful steps individuals can take to reduce their carbon emissions from food. Animal products are responsible for 57% of global food-related emissions, compared with plant-based foods which contribute 29% of the total – even though animals provide less than one fifth of the world's total energy from food.
Every year in January, millions of people worldwide choose to start the year by giving up animal products for the month. Others may choose starting the week with each Monday as a meat-free day, or take part in the no-meat-in-the-daytime initiative Vegan Before 6. Besides these initiatives, there are plenty of year-round efforts to reduce meat intake. The "less but better" concept involves eating less meat but ensuring it is more ethically produced. "Reducetarianism", meanwhile, involves people simply reducing their meat, dairy and egg intake.
People have many different reasons for reducing their meat consumption, whether for animal welfare, climate or dietary reasons. Regardless of their motivations, a recent study found that low meat diets can be beneficial across a range of environmental reasons, with vegan diets having lower greenhouse gas emissions, lower water use and lower impacts on biodiversity.
For those making the switch for only a short period, however, those impacts may initially only be lowered during that time. But there are indications that there could also be some surprising lasting impacts that can go well beyond January, Monday, or whichever time period someone might choose to avoid or cut down on animal products.