Environmental vegetarianism
From Envirowiki
Vegetarianism is the idea that one should not eat meat (as opposed to veganism, which forbids any animal product). Reasons for vegetarianism include ethical ones, such as animal liberation, as well as practical ones, such as reducing the impact on the environment.
The primary reason that vegetarianism is more environmentally friendly than a high-meat diet is that meat requires much more energy and water input per food output.
[edit] 1 Energy consumption of foods
Approximate average energy inputs and greenhouse outputs for various foods[1]:
| Food | Energy input (J/Kg) | Greenhouse gas emissions (Kg CO2-e/Kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | 29.3 | 25.2 |
| Bakery products | 33.1 | 5.5 |
| Oils and fats | 16.6 | 5.3 |
| Sugar and Confectionery | 29.8 | 4.4 |
| Dairy products | 18.2 | 3.7 |
| Fruit and Vegetables | 12.2 | 1.5 |
| Flour and cereals | 8.3 | 1.1 |
| Wine and spirits | 45.5 | 5.2 |
| Beer and Malt | 7.1 | 1.0 |
The figures in the above table are a rough guide only, based on Australian averages. Real figures may vary widely, for example because of differing farming practices.
[edit] 2 references
- ↑ Lenzen, Manfred; Christopher J. Dey (2002-07). "Economic, energy and greenhouse emissions impacts of some consumer choice, technology and government outlay options". Energy Economics 24 (4): 377-403. DOI:10.1016/S0140-9883(02)00007-5. Retrieved on 2008-08-05.
