Article says meat production is associated with 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and approximately one third of biodiversity loss

for rising greenhouse emissions, deforestation, as well as a decline in biodiversity and water quality

from the Universities of East Anglia and Greifswald, Germany believe

We’re eating more meat than ever before, but our insatiable appetite for everything from burgers to roast chicken is having a serious effect on the environment, researchers claim.

They say the livestock industry is responsible for rising greenhouse emissions, deforestation, as well as a decline in biodiversity and water quality.

The scientists, from the University of East Anglia and the University of Greifswald, Germany, believe a widespread switch to a vegetarian diet would help.

Our insatiable appetite for everything from burgers to chicken (stock image) is having a serious effect on the environment, researchers claim. They say the livestock industry is responsible for rising greenhouse emissions, deforestation, as well as a decline in biodiversity and water quality

Their article published in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, looks at the long-term effects with our obsession with meat, ranging from climate to biodiversity.

Worldwide meat production has tripled over the last four decades, rising by 20 per cent in the last decade.

According to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation, worldwide consumption of meat increased from 23 kilograms to 42 kilograms per-capita between 1961 and 2009.

Scientists from the University of East Anglia, believe switching to a vegetarian diet (illustrated with a stock image) would help solve problems from disappearing biodiveristy to social conflicts over land

THE WORLD'S DEMAND FOR MEAT Worldwide meat production has tripled over the last four decades and expanded by 20 per cent in the past decade. According to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization, worldwide consumption of meat has increased from 51 lbs (23kg) to 93 lbs (42kg) per-capita between 1961 and 2009. Germans eat an average of 194 lbs (88kg) of meat a year - twice the global average. The average American eats 30 times as much meat as the average Indian. India has the lowest per-capital annual meat consumption, at nine lbs (4kg). People in developed countries consume on average double the quantity of meat products compared to their counterpart in developing countries, due to lowering prices of meat and dairy products, competitive pricing wars and aggressive marketing by the supermarket chains. Global demand for meat (as well as dairy products) is expected to accelerate, if left unchecked. Advertisement

‘Over the coming years livestock product consumption could soar as more people become wealthier,' said co-author Tim O'Riordon.

‘A vital role for science is to inform and help consumers to switch to healthier non-livestock related diets.’

A previous report suggests livestock is responsible for almost one third of biodiversity loss because it promotes deforestation and the degradation of grassland.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) states that increases in livestock production threaten some 306 of the 825 regions and 23 of 35 global biodiversity hotspots.

Meat production is associated with 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, because of methane emitted by animals and deforestation, the article says.

Emissions from meat production globally account for 2,837 million tons of carbon dioxide and those of milk production 1,419 million tons of carbon dioxide, according to FAO figures.

It’s estimated that agriculture accounts for between 30 and 35 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions in total, largely from deforestation.

The article also says that eating meat contributes to the pollution of freshwater lakes.

Animals use far more water than the production of plants and animal waste, antibiotics and hormones as well as chemicals from pesticides used for feed crops, play a role in deteriorating water quality.

The article says meat production is associated with 18 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, because of methane emitted by animals and deforestation (stock image)

The researchers also believe that meat has a human cost, explaining that its consumption causes social conflicts because of the demand for land suitable for grazing and growing fodder for animals.

The researchers write: ‘An important general lesson from this article is that the livestock sector has such deep and wide-ranging environmental and social impacts that the topic of shifting diets… should rank as one of the leading focal themes for sustainability policy.’

They are hopeful more people will become vegetarians, noting that most of India is already vegetarian or vegan, with an increasing number of Europeans embracing a healthier lifestyle involving less meat.