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Veganuary

Writer's picture: SHCSHC

Well, we might be well into January now, but it's never too late to explore new ways of making a difference. This article was written by HCA member Adam Garland, and was published as the Climate Action column in the Harborough Mail on January 9th.


As 2024 closes and 2025 begins we find ourselves facing the same climate issues as a year ago. And as New Year’s resolutions pour in this gives us the perfect chance to evaluate our own lives, are we doing enough?


One’s personal carbon footprint is largely influenced by the energy we use, the mode of transport we take, and the food we eat. The first two are well known, we should be pushing for renewable energy options whenever possible and taking public transport and moving to electric vehicles. However, less is known about food emissions.


The food system humans have decided to employ is inefficient, destructive and barbaric. And to try to explain the destruction we as a species are causing, it’s important to understand land use. Firstly, for context, humans have built on approximately 1% of the Earth’s habitable land surface, this includes towns, cities and infrastructure. Earth is massive, there is more than enough room for all humans. The problem comes when we look at our food system. According to Our World In Data, over one third (38.5%) of the Earth’s habitable land surface is pastureland, grazing for livestock such as cattle and sheep. Yet this land use only accounts for 18% of global calorie production, showing how inefficient livestock rearing is. Meanwhile, just 11.5% of our habitable land is used for growing crops, and this feeds the majority of the planet. Since almost half of those crops are fed to animals, if we reduced meat production the whole planet could easily survive with the crops we are already growing. 


By transitioning to a plant-based food system we could rewild a third of the planet and bring back the forests we’ve destroyed for gluttony. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has indicated that to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050, we need to increase the global forest cover equivalent to the land area of Canada, so it’s not just important that we stop farming, slaughtering and eating animals, it’s a necessity.


Switching to a plant-based diet is daunting to many people. Our reliance on the exploitation of animals is so ingrained in society that we’ve normalised and legalised practices that would be unlawful if performed on a dog, but for us to survive as a species and beat the devastating impact climate change is already having on our planet we must turn to compassion. 


Veganuary has gained popularity since its introduction in 2014. Surveys suggest that globally around 25 million people tried it in 2024. It doesn’t take long to build a habit, but this habit may be the most important one you develop in our bid to save our planet. Veganuary.com is a fantastic resource to help floundering minds gain clarity on meal plans and delicious recipes. What’s more, 98% of people would recommend Veganuary to a friend. When you read this the 1st January will have passed you by, however I implore to you do 31 days anyway. And for an insight into how our food system affects the planet why not try some documentaries? Cowspiracy, Dominion, Game Changers and What the Health will give you plenty of evidence on the benefits of a plant-based diet.


As a nation of animal-lovers we are living through a crisis. The UK is the most nature-depleted country on Earth largely due to unsustainable farming practices. According to a frightening study in 2023 by Greenspoon et.al. only 2% of mammals on Earth are wild, while the other 98% are humans and the animals we raise for food. 


There is no need for this to be the case, as it is not only possible to survive on a plant-based diet, but to thrive. More and more athletes are switching to plant-based due to the endless scientific-backed studies showing the benefits of a whole-foods, plant-based diet. So why not do yourself and your family the gift of trying Veganuary, and make the necessary decision for your health, the planet’s health, and the lives of the 83 billion land animals and the many trillions of aquatic animals we kill each year. (For a breakdown please visit viva.org.uk).




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