8 Ways Eating Less Meat Helps The Environment (2025)
This post and the photos within it may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a commission at no extra charge to you.
Global meat production has soared over the past 50 years, now topping more than 340 million tonnes annually.
But with this growth comes a heavy environmental price. Animal farming is a leading cause of habitat loss, soil erosion, and pollution of water and nutrients.
So, how does reducing meat consumption benefit the environment? In short, it’s the most impactful action an individual can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and soil degradation. Plus, it saves vast amounts of land and water while boosting biodiversity.
Here’s a closer look at 8 key ways eating less meat helps the environment:
1. Reducing meat consumption increases biodiversity
Livestock farming causes roughly 30% of global biodiversity loss. (1, 2, 3) It demands enormous land for grazing and growing animal feed – about 77% of all agricultural land worldwide is used this way. (1, 2) Overgrazing and harmful farming methods further degrade ecosystems. (1)
By reducing meat consumption and shifting towards plant-based foods, we preserve habitats essential for countless species. And biodiversity matters because it supports vital ecosystem functions like soil fertilization, nutrient recycling, clean air and water, pest control, and pollination.
2. Eating less meat saves water
Did you know just 4% of humanity’s water footprint is from household use? About 29% of the total water footprint of the world’s agricultural sector is related to animal product production.
Most water use comes from agriculture, and animal farming is a water guzzler. Producing 1 kg of beef can require up to 20,000 liters of water.
To put it in perspective: a single 200g beef burger uses as much water as 30 five-minute showers. So, if you’re wondering why does eating less meat help the environment, saving water is a huge part of the answer.
3. Reducing meat consumption reduces deforestation
Animal agriculture is a top cause of deforestation, especially in rainforests. (1, 2, 3) Slash-and-burn practices clear vast areas to create cattle pastures.
Around 70% of Amazon rainforest deforestation is linked to cattle farming, threatening countless species and our planet’s lungs. (1, 2, 3)
Companies that have been deforesting the rainforest to raise cattle for their hamburgers include Walmart, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Burger King. Avoiding meat from companies linked to deforestation helps reduce demand and protect forests.
4. Eating less meat lowers greenhouse gas emissions
Meat production accounts for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gases. (1, 2, 3) Cows and sheep produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as they digest food. Additionally, manure, fertilizer production, land use, and transportation add to emissions.
Animal production systems emit significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based food systems. (1)
For context, producing 100g of protein from peas emits just 0.4 kg of CO2, while the same protein from beef emits nearly 90 times more. This stark difference shows how does not eating meat help the environment by significantly cutting emissions.
Greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram for different food groups:
5. Eating less meat decreases soil degradation
Animal farming contributes heavily to soil degradation and groundwater pollution in several ways:
- Improper manure use – Factory farms often apply more manure than crops can absorb, causing excess nutrients to leak into the air and waterways.
- Pesticide runoff – Chemicals used to grow animal feed pollute water, creating dead zones harmful to marine ecosystems and damaging soil quality.
- Soil erosion – Overgrazing without adequate recovery time and too many animals trampling the land cause severe soil damage.
Replacing meat, eggs, and dairy with plant-based foods can greatly reduce manure excess and pesticide use, helping to restore soil health and protect water sources.
6. Reducing meat consumption combats climate change
Meat consumption significantly contributes to global warming and environmental degradation. This study estimates that the livestock sector generates 65% of human-made nitrous oxide and 37% of methane emissions.
Both gases are far more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the atmosphere. Since plant-based foods typically have a climate impact 10 to 50 times lower than animal products, reducing meat consumption for the environment is crucial in fighting climate change.
7. Eating less meat frees up land for growing food for humans
Currently, 40% of harvested crops are fed to animals rather than people. Redirecting this land to grow food directly for humans could increase available calories by 70%, feeding billions more worldwide.
Reducing livestock would mean lower demand for feed and forage. As a result, 4 billion more people could be fed, and we will provide food for starving populations worldwide.
By eating less meat, you help free up land to support global food security and reduce the strain on natural resources. So, the benefits of eating less meat include freeing up the land we can use to grow food for us. (1)
8. Reducing meat consumption will reduce meat waste
Shockingly, around 20% of meat is wasted at retail and consumer levels. (1) We slaughter innocent animals using brutal and painful methods so we can eat their flesh.
As a result, an enormous amount goes to waste, which is horrible on many levels – they were killed for no reason, and they add up to generating more greenhouse gas emissions, once their flesh ends up in a landfill. (1) (2 – page 16)
Cutting back on meat consumption reduces this unnecessary killing and waste, making your diet more ethical and environmentally friendly.
FAQ:
What is the best diet for the environment?
A whole-food plant-based diet is best. Plants require far fewer resources than animal farming. A study showed that a vegan diet can save thousands of liters of water, large areas of forest, and reduce CO2 emissions significantly, plus spare the life of one animal every day. (1)
Which greenhouse gases come from animal farming?
The largest amounts of emissions are in the form of methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide:
- Methane (44%) – mainly from digestion and manure
- Nitrous oxide (29%) – from manure and fertilizers
- Carbon dioxide (27%) – from land use change and machinery
How can I switch to a more sustainable diet?
Start small:
- Try plant-based milk and yogurts
- Explore new vegan foods like tempeh, seitan, and nutritional yeast
- Enjoy naturally vegan meals like hummus and veggie stews
- Replace meat in meals with beans, lentils, tofu, or tempeh
You can read more on how to gently transition to a plant-based diet with my guide.
Final thoughts
Eating less meat offers incredible benefits for the planet.
You don’t need to go fully vegan or vegetarian to make a difference – simply focusing on reducing meat consumption for the environment and embracing more plant-based meals will help immensely.
What do you think? Are you ready to make a change? Drop your thoughts and questions below, I’d love to hear from you!
