The global adoption of a vegan diet would save more than 8 million (human) lives by 2050 and reduce greenhouse emissions by 66%. according to new research done by Oxford University, which was published today in the highly respected scientific journal PNAS [1].

The study also showed the resulting savings in healthcare costs would amount to $735 billion USD per year, and planetary economic costs associated with climate change would drop by about $234 billion USD per year, said a study published Monday in the journal PNAS.

According to the report, global adoption of vegan diet could:

Avoid 8.1 million deaths by 2050 (or 7.3 million for a vegetarian diet)

Reduce greenhouse gases by two thirds

Cut food related emissions by 70% for a vegan diet

Help save around £500 million in healthcare, unpaid informal care and lost working days.

More than half of avoided deaths (57%) were due to decreased red meat consumption, 35% to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, and 30% to a lower prevalence of being overweight and obese associated with limiting excessive energy intake.

47% of all avoided deaths were from reduced coronary heart disease (CHD), 26% from stroke, 18% from cancer, and 12% from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which is hardly surprising because the risk of contracting all of these diseases is directly influenced by diet, with meat/dairy consumption increasing the risk.

In addition to 8.1 million human lives saved, there would also be trillions of animals saved, and without the demand for meat/dairy they would never be born into a life of suffering in the savagely cruel cycle of modern day factory farming.

Every year more than 56 billion land animals are killed by humans (and an estimated 90 billion marine animals). More than 3,000 animals die every second in slaughterhouses around the world.

It doesn't have to be this way though as more and more people learn about the harmful health effects of meat/dairy consumption and choose to no longer allow animals to die simply for their taste buds, there has been a significant rise in the numbers of people adopting a plant-based diet, and with more and more companies offering vegan products it's never been easier to go vegan.

And if you're interested in learning more about the environmental issues the documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (available on Netflix) is a feature-length documentary detailing how the meat/dairy industries are the most destructive industries facing the planet today and is definitely worth watching.