Of all the things that an individual can do to help slow the process of climate change-change lightbulbs, turn down the AC, ride a bike-few if any have as much impact as eating less meat.
So, at least, says the Environmental Working Group in its new Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change and Health.
Yes, this is a guide for meat eaters, not an argument for a vegetarian or vegan diet, which may be too much to ask of a nation of carnivores. But just eliminating a meal or two or three of meat can have a big impact, according to EWG:
If everyone in the U.S. ate no meat or cheese just one day a week, over a year, the effect on emissions would be the equivalent of taking 7.6 million cars off the road.
Or
If you eat one less burger per week, over a year, it’s like taking your car off the road for 320 miles or line drying your clothes half the time.
Or, as Mark Bittman notes, if for two days a week you don’t eat any meat or cheese until dinnertime, you’ll accomplish something similar.
You’ll also save money-vegetarian meals generally cost […]