You may not think it to look at them, but those cute farm animals you see gambolling around the field are remorseless polluters. Those sweet little lambs, those playful piglets, those laughing cows and cheeky chickens - filthy polluters all.

A recent UN report found that meat production was among the top 3 creators of greenhouse gases (including methane which is 23 times more harmful than CO2). It’s responsible for 18% of global emissions, more than the entire world transportation industry.

To produce just 1kg of beef, enough for a spag bol for you and 5 friends, creates a whopping 34.6kg of CO2. It’s enough to make you choke on your chops.

Livestock agriculture is also a major cause of deforestation and soil erosion, as well as being a huge drain on our water supplies. To produce that kilo of beef for your spag bol takes an eye-popping 15,000 litres of water, much more than you need to produce a kilo of cereals.

Added to all that is the fact that farm animals, particularly cows, are a windy bunch. They’re responsible for 37% of global methane emissions, which is even more than Michael Winner.

So you can see that going Easy On The Meat means going easy on the planet.

More info from the Green Thing Wiki >>

Why? Tell you why.

Someone giving you beef about cutting back on the beef? Don’t chicken out. Look that person in the (rib) eye and carve them up with one of these razor sharp retorts to explain why you’re going Easy On The Meat.

  1. All I am saying is give peas a chance.
  2. Because I was quorn to be wild.
  3. Pork chop or planet? Hmmm, let me see.
  4. Because it’s offal for the environment.
  5. Because I’m deeply respectful of life – but only on Tuesdays.

If you’ve got any better ones, then please share them in the COMMENTS section below.

Click when you've done it so Green Thing can count it. More >>

Got something to say?

What others have said...

'Cause not only do I know where's the beef, but I know where it's been.

P_profileblank_25 eichemess at 17:13 on 07/03/08

Because Melon Brando and Okra Winfrey are my heroes.

P_profileblank_25 bluemoon at 23:43 on 05/03/08

I'm not vegetarian because I love animals, I'm vegetarian because I hate plants.

2196794991_99c7266683_b_micro P13 at 13:28 on 05/03/08

I eat only asparagus tips, artichoke hearts and eggs. Lots of eggs.

P_profileblank_25 electrichob at 12:23 on 05/03/08

Because meating is cheating.

Dsc_0007_micro kellis at 12:17 on 05/03/08

Because I’ve just bought shares in a tofu factory.

Green_thing_48_micro andyh at 12:16 on 05/03/08