Not eating meat is more sustainable as it eliminates a trophic level. Energy enters the environment through sunlight. About 1% of light is absorbed and used in primary production. These producers are then eaten, and then the animal that eats the plant is eaten, etc.... Only about 10% of the energy from each level is passed on. Humans eating meat will be eating the animal that ate the plant (only getting about 1% of the original energy). Eating vegan will allow humans to get around 10% of the original energy (by eating the primary producers). Also, billions of dollars, and tons and tons of food and land are used to grow animals for the sole purpose of human consumption. Humans could use these resources to sustain themselves (or not use these resources at all). This would help the environment as well (grazing land reverts back to a natural state, etc....). I hope this helps you get the basic ideas, if not you could always cruise wikipedia (trophic levels, food chain, primary production, etc....).
How does not eating meat affect the environment in a positive way?
- Thread starter Justin B
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