by Alex Hinds

Created on: July 04, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2009

Loathed as I am to back such a sweeping statement, I will come down on the yes side. Firstly, I'll put my cards on the table and declare I am a long time vegetarian, so, dear reader, you may take anything I say with whatever stereotypical image that conjures up for you in mind!

I think there is little doubt a vegetarian diet is on balance 'greener' than a typical meat eaters diet. The production of meat, in particular red meat, is extremely resource hungry which translates into one big whopping carbon footprint. Given an acre of land a grain farmer can feed more people than a livestock farmer. In fact the livestock farmer will need to effectively take food from our mouths by using the grain farmer's produce to raise his cattle. It is simply less efficient, given the same resources the livestock farmer feeds less people. Turn that around and you see people eating meat, and animal products, use more of the world's resources for the, like for like, same food energy they are gaining.

Look at reports from all around the world and you'll see agriculture is often one of, if not the, biggest polluters and greenhouse gas emitters. Its easy to focus on belching power stations and fumes from cars on crowded roads as culprits for our climate crisis and focus on them as scapegoats. Here's news though, all those cows in the fields you drive past, you know they're farting, don't you? All the time, hideous noxious fumes. You just can't see it as you cruise past munching a burger in that green hybrid car. They put cows in fields on postcards because they look green, natural, wholesome. Because we can't see their farts, or the precious water they consume, or the black hole for scarce energy they are.

So, must every meat loving, ribs gnawing, burger chomping guy learn to love chick peas? No! Phew! Here's the thing, vegetarian I may be, but I know its not for everyone. For many many people going veg most certainly would not be the easiest thing they can do to reduce their carbon footprint. It might be the quickest and most effective, but not the easiest for sure. The good news is this doesn't matter. The upside of this reality of the green value of a vegetarian diet is that everyone can greatly reduce their carbon footprint but just eating less meat and animal products which can be a lot easier than trying to go cold turkey on meat all together.

Making one or two of your meals each week meat free, maybe a little less cheese and milk, now that is probably the easiest thing you can change with the biggest benefit on reducing your carbon footprint. Its a win win situation too as you'll find your health and your wallet benefit too! Give it a try, you've nothing to lose!

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