Many people are joining this movement as they want to eat foods that are more sustainable for our abused planet.
A plant-based diet can heal, not only our bodies and spirits, but our environment.
In Australia, major charities such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and Oxfam Australia are communicating the clear message that going vegan, vegetarian or ‘flexitarian’ (significantly reducing meat consumption) is an important personal action people can take to reduce their environmental footprint, increase food security, and contribute to global food equity.
Australian dietary guidelines also recognise the increasing need to place emphasis on food sustainability. These are all important elements in the dietary shift taking place in Australia.
The use of animals for food is one of the top contributors to habitat destruction, freshwater depletion, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and wildlife extinction.
Livestock production already takes up 30% of the Earth’s land mass and is a major contributor to climate change.