Study: Plant-Based Diets Can Slash Greenhouse Gases by Up to 61 Percent

The year 2021 was the worst for weather in our country's history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with 20 climate-related deadly disasters – including wildfires, tornados, floods, hurricanes, and mudslides – leaving devastation that cost $145 billion in property damages and a tragic loss of 688 lives in the US alone. This dire evidence of climate change has consumers wondering how we can possibly help fix things, or at least contribute to our own planet's long-term survival.

For concerned individuals the world over, the solution could be as easy as eating more plant-based foods. Through a multinational research effort, experts published a new study that proposes that a plant-based diet could provide wealthy countries with a “double climate dividend”– reversing some dangerous consequences of animal agriculture.

The researchers published the new study entitled “Dietary change in high-income nations alone can lead to substantial double climate dividend” in Nature Food. The experts explain that a plant-based diet could cut greenhouse gases by 61 percent while also maximizing carbon sequestration. The process would virtually reverse dangerous emissions that can be attributed to the animal agriculture industries globally.

When discussing plant-based diets, the study addresses both individual action and governmental action, highlighting how the two need to corroborate for this to be effective. The introduction of a plant-based food system would also free land to be rewilded, cutting the dangerous impacts of deforestation.

The responsibility falls on wealthier nations, noting that the governments have the power to significantly undercut dangerous greenhouse emissions. The study also explains how the possible carbon sequestration could match 14 years of current global agricultural emission, substantially helping curb the harmful byproducts of industries like meat and dairy production.

The study bases its research on the EAT-Lancet system – a diet that makes plant-based food the priority while recognizing some room for animal-based foods. The diet emphasizes that whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes should comprise a greater proportion of foods consumed. The plant-based diet would significantly decrease the excessive waste that comes from the meat and dairy industries. The study claims that if 54 of the highest income countries would adopt this diet, people could help save the planet.

“A dietary shift from animal-based foods to plant-based foods in high-income nations could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from direct agricultural production and increase carbon sequestration if resulting spared land was restored to its antecedent natural vegetation,” the report reads. “We estimate this double effect by simulating the adoption of the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet by 54 high-income nations representing 68 percent of global gross domestic product and 17 percent  of the population.”

Several other studies have placed the responsibility to stop the climate crisis on animal agriculture. Beyond the UN’s “code red” warning last year, another Nature Food study found that meat farming is responsible for 57 percent of greenhouse gases attributed to food production. The alarming figure can be decreased with government action from the high-income countries worldwide. Currently, 20 livestock companies produce more emissions than full countries including Germany and France.

A team of researchers from the University of Oxford recently found that a vegan diet can potentially reduce a single person’s carbon footprint by 73 percent. The study makes it clear that without dietary change or new food production industries, it will be impossible to stop global warming from hitting the dangerous 1.5 or even 2°C limits.

While it is a massive task to promote plant-based systems worldwide, several campaigns including the Plant Based Treaty have launched initiatives. In direct response to the UN’s warning last year, the Plant-Based Treaty adopt the Paris Agreement to prioritize plant-based innovations at a government level. The campaign promoted a sustainable diet, claiming it could be the key to successfully slowing down rising carbon levels and global temperatures.

“As a companion to the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement, The Plant Based Treaty initiative is a grassroots campaign designed to put food systems at the forefront of combating the climate crisis. Modeled on the popular Fossil Fuel Treaty, the Plant-Based Treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture and to promote a shift to healthier, sustainable plant-based diets,” the campaign’s website states. “We are urging scientists, individuals, groups, businesses, and cities to endorse this call to action and put pressure on national governments to negotiate an international Plant Based Treaty.”

Sir James Paul McCartney is no stranger to a meat-free life as he's been vegetarian for 45 years. He initially went vegetarian in 1975 with his first wife Linda McCartney and began his advocacy for animal rights.

If you find yourself constantly singing along to the song The Greatest, then you're already a Sia fan. Sia tweeted that she is "fully vegan now" back in 2014 and stays true to her word

Way back at the start of Grey's Anatomy, Sandra Oh took the cast out for a plant-based lunch at Truly Vegan in Hollywood. In her effort to inspire contemporaries to eat vegan, the TV star is known to invite her friends for vegan meals that are delicious. She adopted the vegan lifestyle years ago and continues to quietly live a cruelty-free life.

Giselle revealed that when she was at the peak of her modeling career, her diet consisted of "cigarettes, wine, and mocha Frappuccinos," according to an interview in People Magazine. Now 39 and the mother of two children, Gisele eats a "mostly" plant-based diet to nourish her body and stay fueled.

Alec Baldwin has made a bigger commitment to plant-based eating since he was first told by doctors that he was pre-diabetic and needed to change his diet. That was decades ago. But, over the last few years, he's been vocal about the benefits not only to his health but also the impact plant-based eating has on the environment.

We all remember Pamela Anderson as the curvaceous blonde in the hit series Baywatch as she played Casey Jean in the red one-piece swimsuit that brought her world-class fame. She is a life-long active animal rights advocate and teamed up with PETA to join the Animal Protection Organization.

"We shouldn't eat as much meat guys," Kristen Stewart told GQ in an interview in January. The Twilight star has made a full 180 from vampire to vegan. When she appeared on the game show "Hot Ones" she chose to skip the wings and instead compete by eating increasing spicier sauce on vegan cauliflower wings.

This award-winning actor eats a high-protein diet consisting of only plants. Leto, who has been plant-based for 20 years, says it keeps him "shredded" in an interview. Now, 48, Leto looks half his age.

Jaden Smith switched up his diet from vegan to vegetarian, meaning that he doesn't eat meat but does eat dairy from time to time. In a recent article by Plant Based News, Smith admits he skipped meals and was not getting the proper nutrition when he was vegan, but this hasn't stopped him from espousing the plant-based life.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has never admitted to being fully vegan, but sources say, she eats a plant-based diet most days during the week. She is teaching Prince Harry vegan cooking and in a Plant-Based News article, Markle explained how she hopes to raise baby Archie on a mostly vegan diet.

As a professional athlete, fueling the body is a key factor to Willaim's successes. In a Bon Appetite article, she explained that she adopted a plant-based diet back in 2012, she was eating a lot "healthier" for her sister, Venus, who eats a strict vegan diet for health reasons.

The popular grocery store, Whole Foods Market sells vegan products and nonvegan products which arises black lash from ethical vegans as CEO John Mackey follows a strict vegan diet. The successful businessman grew up in Houston Texas and told Business Insider that he would traditionally eat processed foods for dinner while watching TV with his family. Now, Mackey steers clear from the processed isle and eats a clean vegan diet and feels amazing at the age of 65.

Jason Mraz, singer of the popular song, I'm Yours, committed to a vegan diet to support his friend diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Mraz says he eats mostly raw food and told magazine sources his favorite vegan dish is "Chocomole, a mixture of avocados, dates, cacao, agave nectar, and coconut oil."

Long time vegan, Leona Lewis grew up in a vegan household and continues to eat a plant-based diet. Lewis first adopted the diet at 12 when she learned about the health risks of eating animal products but told Women's Health Magazine she occasionally eats an omelet. She also mentioned her 2:30 lunch is normally a kale salad topped with dried cranberries and she loves a veggie stir-fry for dinner.

Hannah Teter changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how "horrible" factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed as an athlete and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games.

You may recognize Maggie Q as the star of the Nikita series, but in the plant-based world, she's well-known for her heroic activism. Maggie Q has followed a strict vegan diet for 19 years, making her a true veteran of the lifestyle. She made the plant-based diet transition because she felt sluggish and had low energy, she has said. The famous actress keeps in shape by eating veggies and plant-based protein and working out with a passion.

Winner of the first Masterchef vegan cook-off with Gordon Ramsay, Madelaine Petsch was raised vegetarian and went completely vegan at age 14. She claims that she started this diet before it was "trendy" and shot a campaign for PETA last year wearing a dress made of bok choy. Petsch says her vegan diet allows her to feel "healthier" and not "lethargic."

After doing a little sleuthing on her social media platforms we think Millie Bobbi Brown qualifies as plant-based. Whether or not she is actually skipping all meat and dairy, one thing is for sure: She eats mostly salads, vegetables and grains and lives a predominantly plant-based lifestyle full of healthy foods.

The grammy-nominated sisters went vegan for a week with their mom but liked it so much they decided to stick with it. For one thing, it helps keep their "voices in shape" by eating a vegan diet and they emphasize the fact that dairy helps to limit extra mucus build-up, according to a PETA interview.

Best known for her role as Lizzie Mcguire in the long-running series, Hilary Duff is a recent vegan advocate and entrepreneur. She recently launched the vegan and cruelty-free eyeshadow palette, "Day Dreamer" and changed her diet to plant-based last fall.