The thought experiment: What would happen if everyone on the planet suddenly went vegan? (2024)

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The thought experiment: What would happen if everyone on the planet suddenly went vegan? ›

Emissions. Food production is responsible for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from cows burping methane. Methane is such a potent greenhouse gas that a global switch to plant-based diets would cut emissions from food production by 28 per cent – that's the equivalent of India going carbon neutral.

Assuming the world went strictly vegan, it would mean no form of livestock or ruminant production. Methane is one of the most produced gases in the livestock sector and is a key driver of climate change, as enteric fermentation occurs in ruminant livestock.

By the completion of the study, the vegan group had reduced their LDL by around 14% and their fasting insulin levels by 20%. They'd also lost, on average, 4.2 pounds more than the omnivorous group. The results were published November 30 in JAMA Network Open.

The world would save $1483.8 billion if everyone went vegetarian and $1636.5 billion if everyone went vegan (Davis). These numbers are significantly large. There are many ways to measure the economic value of the animal agriculture industry.

For some, it's for ethical reasons. They care for animals and don't want to see them suffer. Others have become more aware of the impact of animal-based diets on the environment. This makes them more willing to forego meat to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

By one estimate, a complete phaseout of meat over 15 years would cut as much as one-third of all methane emissions and two-thirds of all nitrous oxide emissions. Water use would fall drastically. Biodiversity loss would slow.

Each individual person who goes vegan can save 200 animals per year, 1.3 million gallons of water, and 1.5 tons of carbon emissions, and the UN reports that a vegan diet can feed many more people than an animal-based diet.

A joint study by the International Labour Organization and the Inter-American Development Bank in 2020 looked at how to achieve a just transition — climate action that centers workers and frontline communities — and found that a shift to plant-based diets could result in a loss of 4.3 million jobs, but a potential gain ...

Veganism alone cannot solve world hunger. However, world hunger cannot be solved without a global shift to plant-based diets. World hunger is a multi-faceted problem that requires a multi-faceted solution. Animal agriculture impacts each of these facets in some way.

If everyone adopted a vegetarian diet and no food were wasted, there would be enough food to feed 10 billion people1.

Is being vegan actually healthier? ›

Vegan diets have also been shown to help in the treatment of type 2 diabetes by lowering total and LDL cholesterol and by controlling lipid levels, for example by reducing triglycerides, a type of fat that is also associated with a greater risk of heart disease (Jenkins et al.

In a more vegetarian world, the diversity of life on Earth would probably also improve. In fact, the use of land for livestock farming, either for direct grazing or for producing animal feed, is one of the main causes of loss of habitat and a threat to biodiversity.

You're likely to notice changes if you decide to go vegan and abstain from non-plant foods. If you stick with healthy food choices, you'll likely lose weight and snack less. You may also see improvements in your skin and energy levels.

Vegans can be at a greater risk of becoming anaemic because of the lack of vitamin B12 and omega-3, which can cause fatigue and the inability to concentrate, especially in young people. There is also an association between veganism and lower bone density, which can lead to an increased risk of fractures.

In short, animal agriculture is killing the planet. It is a huge waste of resources and land, and causes huge amounts of deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The production of plant-based foods requires less land, fewer resources, and produces vastly fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Research has shown that a vegan diet can help do the following: Promote weight loss. Reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. Lower your chances of getting certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer.

With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs. If you do not plan your diet properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients, such as calcium, iron, vitamin B12, iodine and selenium.