1 - Agriculture Is a Major Driver of Climate Change (and Disease)

Summary

Currently 7.8 billion people live on Earth, and by 2100 there will be 11.2 billion. As developing countries urbanize, their populations eat more meat and dairy. But if everyone on Earth eats the amount of animal products that we do in the US and Europe, we will need two Earths to feed us all. We are rapidly cutting down rainforests for agriculture, cattle farming, and palm oil production, which is not sustainable. Chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, stroke) are closely related to the foods we eat and are also the most common causes of premature death around the world. To reduce chronic diseases and feed a growing world population, many of us should transition to a healthier and more sustainable, plant-based diet. Additionally, new infectious diseases will be an even greater risk in the coming decades with so many people eating a meat-heavy diet due to increased interactions with wildlife – as we destroy their homes in the forests to grow the many animal products humans want to eat. To prevent both chronic and infectious diseases and agriculturally induced climate change, it is absolutely necessary that we transition to a more environmentally sustainable and healthy diet.