At the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28) this year, decision-makers won’t just talk about change. They’ll taste it. COP28 (Nov. 30–Dec. 12) will offer a predominantly vegan menu, reflecting a growing awareness of how meat, eggs and dairy contribute to the climate catastrophe. Let’s hope this mounting understanding will inspire everyone to go vegan—before it’s too late.
A global shift to vegan eating is imperative. The just-released Fifth National Climate Assessment by the U.S. Global Change Research Program found that we’re not on track to meet the U.N.-approved target of keeping global warming below 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. This is alarming. Scientists fear that if the Earth heats up beyond this point, it will become difficult for life to adapt and thrive.
The assessment also reveals that extreme heatwaves, hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters are becoming more intense and frequent, and these events can result in a catastrophic loss of life and destruction of property. The stark conclusion is that immediate, bold action is necessary to mitigate the escalating threat of climate-related crises.
Eliminating animal agriculture is “our best and most immediate chance to reverse the trajectory of climate change,” according to research published in PLOS Climate. This new model shows that a worldwide shift away from animal agriculture in the next 15 years would have the same effect as a 68% reduction of CO2 emissions through the year 2100.
A recent study in Nature Food recommends government policy interventions that would reduce meat consumption. This study shows that compared with individuals who consume 100 grams of meat daily, those who eat vegan reduce their climate-heating emissions, water pollution and land use by 75%. It also found that vegan eating cuts the destruction of wildlife by 66%.
In addition to being eco-friendly, vegan eating is the most ethically responsible choice. Factory farming inflicts unimaginable suffering on animals, forces them into cramped and unsanitary living conditions and subjects them to routine mutilations and harsh confinement. The lives of these animals are plagued with stress, pain and deprivation, from crowded cages for hens to tightly packed pens for pigs and cows. And the use of growth-promoting drugs and antibiotics worsens their suffering—and poses risks to human health.
Consuming meat, eggs and dairy is a recipe for experiencing a variety of health issues—heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes, to name a few. Leading health experts agree that going vegan is the epitome of self-care. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics echoes this sentiment, affirming that well-planned vegan eating meets nutritional needs and confers myriad health benefits. Going vegan is a prescription for personal and planetary well-being.
The vegan menu at COP28 serves as a beacon of hope and should inspire everyone to go vegan before the consequences of the climate catastrophe become irreversible. So, may our collective shift toward vegan eating become a catalyst for change. May it be a declaration that echoes around the globe—a promise to nurture the planet, live with compassion and secure a sustainable future for all.
