Environmental damage to our beautiful planet, our only planet, is no secret. Some scientists argue the damage already done is irreversible. That’s worrying, to say the least. Studies have shown that in the Southern Hemisphere, temperatures will soar to uninhabitable levels. This will create the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever seen. Essentially whole countries will become impossible to live in. North Africa, India and the Arab Gulf will likely be the first areas so badly affected. (The Economist). The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) found that “Tens of millions of people will be forced from their homes by climate change in the next decade” (The Guardian). Where will these people go, and what protections will be in place for them? The EJF also called for legal framework to deal with the future refugee crisis. It is horrifying to consider that in our lifetimes countries will simply become unliveable.

Is it time not only to demand our governments make big changes quickly, but also as individuals we make environmentally conscious decisions?

The EJF’s report also examined the Syrian Crisis, finding that successive droughts caused 1.5 million people to move to the cities between 2006 and 2011. Thereby reducing the reliability of access to food, jobs and water. Steve Trent, executive director of the EJF stated “climate change is the unpredictable ingredient that, when added to existing social, economic and political tensions, has the potential to ignite violence and conflict with disastrous consequences.” Trent also noted that it is not too late, and that we can take steps to not only reduce our omissions but also create legal framework to protect the most vulnerable. He warns however “Climate change will not wait. Neither can we. For climate change refugees, tomorrow is too late.” It seems necessary to play our part, however big or small that may be. The never-ending question for people with a conscience is; what can we do?

Most people have a short-term memory; often for good reason, we simply could not deal with the weight of the world on our shoulders. It is hard to comprehend the future in relation to such devestating environmental damage; to the only home we have. However, putting aside political and other conflicts, the environment should be on the top of our list. It seems so overwhelmingly burdensome, that most of us push it to the back of our minds; and try to recycle what we can, in the hope it will make a difference. There is one thing we can all do; we can make different decisions about what we buy and eat. Michigan University recently noted that our choice of food is the main deciding factor as to the damage we cause, and ultimately the difference we can make.

Reducing meat and dairy in our diets is the single biggest contribution we can make to a healthier planet, and in consequence a healthier person. By reducing the consumption of these products, we reduce the damage these industries have on the environment. For example, making one burger requires 660 gallons of water (Los Angeles Times). Joseph Poore, University of Oxford who recently led research into the effect a vegan diet has on the environment stated, “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth…It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car.” For example, beef produces 105kg of greenhouse gases per 100g of meat, while tofu produces less than 3.5kg. (Poore and Nemecek study published in the Journal of Science). The study also showed that 80% of farmland is used for livestock, but it produces 18% of food calories. This land could be used to grow crops for people, thereby cutting out the most expensive way to make food (meat); consequently, 10-11 billion people would be fed (onegreenplanet.org). Would it also be possible to end world hunger?

Marco Springman, a research fellow at Oxford Martin School’s Future of Food programme found, through computer models that predicted what would happen if the world became vegetarian or vegan by 2050. If the world became vegetarian (this is a leap of course from cutting down), food-related emissions would drop by 60%, and going vegan there would be a decline of 70%. However, one step at a time; simple changes, like making one meal a week vegetarian or vegan would make a difference. Earthday.org broke it down in a simple way. Eating one less burger a week, is taking your car off the road for 320 miles. Skip steak once a week with your family, and the equivalent of taking your car off the road for nearly three months. Taking a pretty big leap; if the entire US did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles or taking 7.6 million cars off the road. Putting aside endless facts, making a change to veggie or vegan one evening a week could significantly reduce environmental damage; plus change is good.

Whether or not concerns lie in the welfare of animals, or the preservation of their lives, reducing meat and dairy consumption will essentially save the planet. Making changes to your diet, will also help to protect the human race, and could prevent mass refugee crises’ in a decade. What we pick up in the supermarket and cook for our evening meal has consequences for people in the not so distant future. Is it time to take it off the table?