People in Western countries are eating less meat these days, whether for their health or because they want to protect animals. But now they have another reason that eating less meat can help to prevent climate(气候)change to make a better environment.
Raising livestock(家畜) is bad for the environment. When animals like cows digest(消化) food, their stomachs make greenhouse gases((体),which is a major cause of global(全 球)warming.17percent of greenhouse gas emissions(排放)come from livestock farming, The New York Times reported. To raise these livestock, people have to cut down forests and turn them into farms. Forests play a key role in fighting global warming because they take in greenhouse gas. …
The study found eating less meat could cut global food—related(与食物相关的)emissions by nearly 35 percent by 2050. Eating more vegetables in the long term could cut down emissions by 63percent.
But eating less meat won't be easy. People in Western countries will need to eat 90 percent less meat than they do now, or it will have no influence on our climate.
Some say that eating insects could help. A UN report says that eating insects is healthier and better for the environment. They produce 75 percent less greenhouse gas than livestock. Some experts are creating man—made meat. People in the US might be able to buy this kind of meat in the future.