The globalised food system produces upto one-third of total man-made greenhouse gases, with meat and dairy accounting for nearly a fifth¹ (not to mention deforestation, habitat loss, displacement of communities, water use and pollution, animal suffering, heart disease, obesity, etc., etc.!) - that's more than ALL the emissions from transportation.

Livestock production is set to double by 2050, by which time it's estimated we'll need to spend around $40 trillion globally in tackling climate change – this figure could be halved, and the other issues reduced, by following a low meat diet (defined as 70g of beef and 325g of chicken and eggs per week) as recommended by Harvard Medical School.²

If you're a meat eater, why not try going meat-free for one day a week, not only will it help the planet but it might just do your health some good and save you money! Try looking at Meat Free Mondays; whilst having a vested interest as it's connected with Linda McCartney foods, it's a good place to start for recipes and links to further information...

¹Steinfeld, H., et al., Livestock’s long shadow: Environmental issues and options. 2006, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy.

²Stefehst E et al, Climate benefits of changing diet, Climatic Change, Feb 4 2009; DOI 10.1007/s10584-008-9534-6.