A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change, a UN report said today.

As the global population surges towards a predicted 9.1 billion people by 2050, western tastes for diets rich in meat and dairy products are unsustainable, says the report from United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) international panel of sustainable resource management.

It says: “Impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels, it is difficult to look for alternatives: people have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”

Read more here >>

Cows crammed in together in a feedlot.

These feedlots are where the cattle are often sent to before slaughter, even if they lived on a “humane” farm prior. The feedlots are densely populated and produce massive amounts of waste. The cows are generally fed corn and/or soy, which is not a natural food source for them. The result is environmental damage, human health risks, and animal abuse. Read more here, here, and here.

The website link says:

“Fed cattle” are raised on pasture land for 12-18 months and transported to a feedlot for finishing, where they spend four to six months. (source)

Then they’re slaughtered.

Another image, this one is from the banner on the front page:

Pigs in confinement.

Oh, and the website, “Sustainable Meat Industry,” also offers some helpful links… to McDonald’s and Wal-Mart. Gee… I wonder who paid for the website.

Here’s a screenshot:

Hat tip: vegan.com