|
June 2009
World Environment
Day – 5
June 2009
It’s
World Environment Day on 5 June. Established by the United Nations,
the theme for this year is 'Your Planet Needs You-UNite to
Combat Climate Change'. Diet makes a huge contribution to our environmental
impact and going vegetarian is one of the most effective ways for individuals
to improve the sustainabilty of their personal lifestyle.
Some quick facts and figures for World Environment Day:
18% of world global greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock production,
whereas 13.5% comes from transport.
A typical diet requires up to 2.5 times the amount of land compared
to a veggie diet and 5 times that of a vegan diet.
Estimates of the water required to produce a kilo of beef vary, from
13,000 litres right up to 100,000 litres. The water required to produce
a kilo of wheat is somewhere between 1,000-2,000 litres.
By feeding grain and vegetables directly to people (rather than livestock)
we can increase the amount of food available to everyone.
It has been estimated that eating a kilogram of beef represents roughly
the same greenhouse emissions as flying 100 kilometers of a flight,
per passenger.
Find out more about the environmental arguments for going vegetarian
and how reducing your meat intake can help safeguard worldwide food
supplies by ordering a free copy of 'Why it's Green to Go Vegetarian'
on 0161 925 2000, www.vegsoc.org/environment.
Notes for editors
· For
press information please contact Su on 0161 925 2012 or su@vegsoc.org,
or out of office hours call mobiles 07973 108 165/7,
visit www.vegsoc.org/press
· References
available on request
Press
Officer press@vegsoc.org
For the latest Vegetarian Society press releases visit www.vegsoc.org
The Vegetarian Society
Direct line - 0161 925 2012
Fax 0161 926 9182
Registered Charity: 259358
|
