UN says a ‘demitarian’ diet is better for the planet than veganism

In a recent study, researchers found that halving meat and dairy consumption could have a greater impact on cutting nitrogen pollution than foregoing animal products altogether.

Last year, it was revealed that the agriculture industry is responsible for about a quarter of our total greenhouse gas emissions, the main contributor being livestock and fisheries.

Yet although the drastic environmental impact of meat and dairy production has been at the forefront of the climate conversation for some time now, little has been done to address it — at least from a top down level, that is.

Most often, the solutions posed are targeted towards the individual, encouraging consumers to ‘give Veganuary a go’ or experiment with Meat Free Mondays.

For this reason — and in light of findings that cutting meat and dairy products from our diets could reduce our personal carbon footprints by up to 73 per cent — many deem veganism a silver bullet in the face of the ongoing ecological emergency.