A 2006 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization [PDF] revealed that the industrial production of meat, dairy and eggs causes more harm to the climate than even cars and SUVs:

Climate change is the most serious challenge facing the human race. The livestock sector is a major player, responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport.

Because of the enormous amounts of resources required to raise animals for food, livestock production puts a heavy strain on the planet. According to the U.N. report, problems associated with industrial meat production include:

Deforestation

Livestock production accounts for 70 percent of all agricultural land and 30 percent of the land surface of the planet. Expansion of livestock production is a key factor in deforestation.

Water waste

The livestock sector is a key player in increasing water use, accounting for over 8 percent of global human water use, mostly for the irrigation of feed crops. It is probably the largest sectoral source of water pollution.

These are just a couple of reasons why giving up meat is the best thing you can do to help stop global warming.

Are we justified in causing such a detrimental impact on the planet when humans can be perfectly healthy without eating meat?

Even if you’re not ready to commit to a vegetarian or vegan diet, you can still help the environment by cutting down on meat, dairy and eggs on certain days of the week.