The Guardian reports that a new
study by Oxford University has found a tax on meat and dairy would cut carbon
emissions and save lives.
This first-ever global analysis determined that a climate
tax on meat and milk would substantially cut carbon emissions and save half a
million lives a year. A 40% tax on beef and a 20% tax on milk would account for
the climate damage meat and dairy production causes. The tax would also cause
people to decrease their consumption, improving public health.
Lead researcher Marco Springmann states:
It is clear that if we don’t do something about the emissions from our food system, we have no chance of limiting climate change below 2C. But if you’d have to pay 40% more for your steak, you might choose to have it once a week instead of twice.
The study found that the best tax plan would cut carbon
emissions by 1 billion tons per year, about what the entire global aviation
industry produces. According to the UN, raising animals for food produces more
greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, planes, and other forms of
transportation combined.
Additionally, researchers believe the improvements to public
health could save billions of dollars annually in healthcare costs. Linked to
certain cancers, heart disease, and more, meat and dairy are terrible
for your health.
Springmann explains how critical it is to find a way to cut
the environmental impact of food production: “Either we have climate change and
more heart disease, diabetes and obesity, or we do something about the food
system.
You don’t need to wait for governments to act. By switching
to a vegan diet, you can help fight climate change and greatly improve your
health.
For information on adopting a compassionate plant-based diet, including
delicious vegan recipes, click here.