Reducing Greenhouse Gases by Eating Plant-Based Foods

Eating more plants and less meat is better for the planet. This is because raising animals for food releases up to 100 times more greenhouse gases into the air than growing plants does (Figure 1). There are three main ways that animal foods emit more greenhouse gases. First, some animals, like cows, produce the greenhouse gas methane when they digest their food, and methane is even more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat close to the Earth. Second, we must grow a lot of food to feed the animals, but we do not get that same amount of food back in the form of animal products. This is because when animals grow, they use a lot of energy just to stay alive, for example for breathing or digesting food. Third, animals and the foods we feed them take up a lot of space, so people must cut down forests to make more farmland. This is called deforestation, and the trees and the soil beneath them hold a lot of greenhouse gases that are released when the trees are cut down. By choosing more plant-based foods, we can help reduce the release of harmful greenhouse gases and save more trees from being cut down.

Restoring Nature and Reducing Carbon in The Atmosphere

Another exciting benefit of eating more plant-based foods is that we will need less land to grow all the food for the animals, as well as less land to keep them on. The extra land that is not used for farming can be restored to its natural state, with trees and other plants (Figure 2). This process is called revegetation. Plants are super helpful for the environment because they soak up carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create energy and grow. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, so when plants absorb it, they help to keep Earth’s atmosphere in balance. By restoring land to its natural state, we can have more trees and other plants working together to remove carbon dioxide from the air, which is good for the planet.

Double the Benefit

Scientists came up with a special diet called the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet [2]. This diet is both healthy for us and healthy for the planet. People on this diet are advised to eat more foods like beans and lentils along with more nuts. They eat much less meat and cheese. We wondered what would happen if people in rich countries, like the U.S. and European countries, ate this diet, so we did research to find out. We discovered that, if everyone in these countries ate the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the foods we eat by a whopping 61% straight away [3]. This is because the diet avoids lots of animal foods, which release lots of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Releasing less greenhouse gases is the first important climate benefit of eating more plants.

Then we looked at the land-saving aspect of eating a plant-based diet. Because animal farming takes up so much space, shifting to eating plants would save lots of land that could be returned to its natural state. This means we could plant more trees and other plants, which help to soak up more carbon dioxide from the air. This is the second climate benefit from eating more plants rather than animal products. Revegetation can remove a huge amount of carbon dioxide from the air. If everyone in rich countries switched to the EAT-Lancet diet, we estimate that almost 100 billion tons of emissions could be extracted from the air over the long term. This is equal to around 14 years of greenhouse gases currently produced around the world by farming. We would benefit most over the short term—around 20 years—as plants grow fast in the beginning and need lots of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but we would continue to benefit for over 100 years in many cases.

So, switching to a plant-based diet gives us a double climate benefit. The first part of the benefit comes from reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When we eat more plant-based foods, we produce fewer greenhouse gases from farming, which is good for the planet. The second part of the benefit comes from the carbon stored in nature through revegetation, and that is also good for the planet.

Helping Wildlife Thrive

There are many other environmental benefits to switching to a plant-based diet. When we choose to eat more plant-based foods and free up land that was used for farming, it is not only good for the climate but also fantastic for wildlife and for people, too. By restoring land to its natural state with trees, flowers, and grasses, we can create a safe and welcoming home for many kinds of animals, like birds and insects. Trees provide cozy homes for birds to build nests, and flowers attract busy bees and colorful butterflies. The more we plant, the more diverse and exciting the wildlife community becomes!

When we restore land to its natural state, we create amazing places where people can explore and have fun. This is really good for human health. Breathing in the fresh air among the trees makes us feel happy and relaxed. When we spend time outdoors, nature gives us the special gift of feeling healthy and strong.

We Can Make a Big Difference

Now you know that eating more plant-based foods gives us a double climate benefit—it reduces greenhouse gases produced from farming and it helps the planet by freeing up land for more trees and other plants to grow and soak up carbon dioxide. We can also create homes for wildlife, explore nature’s playground, and stay healthy. Everyone can play a part in protecting our planet by eating fewer animal products and more plants. Remember, every little step counts, and together we can make a big difference. We can also encourage our friends, family, and communities to join in. By doing so, we can raise awareness about the importance of more eating plant-based foods and the positive impacts it can have on Earth’s climate.

Glossary

Greenhouse Gases: ↑ Any gas that increases the temperature of the planet when it is in the atmosphere.

Deforestation: ↑ When large areas of forest are cleared and the trees cut down.

Revegetation: ↑ When areas that have been cleared of natural plants are replanted by humans or by nature.

Photosynthesis: ↑ The process that plants use to stay alive. They use energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into food for themselves.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

AI Tool Statement

Before starting the article, the author used AI-assisted technologies to help explore age-appropriate terminology. No text generated by the tool appears in the article.