Less meat = low carbon

MANILA, Philippines – On the occasion of World Meat-Free Day last Monday, Sen. Loren Legarda called on Filipinos to cut down on meat consumption as a way to start a low-carbon lifestyle and help mitigate climate change. 

“Part of climate change mitigation is the promotion of a low carbon lifestyle. Since meat production and consumption produce more greenhouse gases, eating lower on the food pyramid is advised, which means less meat and more of whole grains, fruits and vegetables,” said Legarda, chairman of the Senate committee on climate change. 

Studies by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) show that 14.5 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from global livestock. Cattle produce more emissions, particularly methane, than pigs and chickens.

Legarda added that food that comes from distant places utilizes more energy for transportation and preservation, which means greater carbon emission.