Assessing the Efficacy of Plant-Based Alternatives in Mitigating Climate Change

Abstract

Meat consumption and current livestock farming practices have a multitude of detrimental impacts on climate change and human health. Today, livestock farming is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The manure and chemicals used in livestock farms also seep into the water supplies and degrade the quality of water. Furthermore, livestock require a vast expanse of land for grazing and feeding, which leads to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. High meat consumption and its associated effects have also been implicated in causing various health complications in humans such as a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and an overall increase in mortality. Transitioning towards plant-based diets could not only mitigate the impacts of climate change, but it could also improve human health. This paper assesses the efficacy of transitioning towards plant-based diets and the overall benefits and challenges of this transition. This literature review is crucial as it compiles recent data about climate change and various studies about plant-based dietary transitions, as well as their impacts on the environment, human health, and climate change mitigation efforts.