An EarthSave International Report: How Environmentalists are Overlooking Vegetarianism as the Most Effective Tool Against Climate Change in Our Lifetimes.

Global warming poses one of the most serious threats to the global environment that humanity has ever faced. However, by focusing exclusively on carbon dioxide emissions, major environmental organizations have overlooked the significant impact of other greenhouse gases, which are actually the main contributors to global warming. As a result, they are missing what could be the most effective strategy for mitigating global warming in our lifetimes: advocating for a vegetarian diet.

The environmental community rightly recognizes global warming as one of the gravest threats to our planet. Global temperatures are now higher than they have been in at least the past millennium, and the rise is accelerating faster than scientists had anticipated. The expected consequences include coastal flooding, more extreme weather events, the spread of diseases, and mass extinctions.

Unfortunately, the environmental community's efforts have almost exclusively targeted the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Legislative initiatives focus on raising fuel economy standards, capping CO2 emissions from power plants, and investing in alternative energy sources. Consumer recommendations also center on CO2 reduction: buying fuel-efficient cars and appliances, and minimizing usage.

This represents a significant miscalculation. Data published by Dr. James Hansen and other scientists reveal that CO2 emissions are not the primary cause of observed atmospheric warming. The exclusive focus on CO2 is partly driven by misconceptions. While it is true that human activity generates far more CO2 than all other greenhouse gases combined, this does not mean CO2 is the main driver of global warming. Many other greenhouse gases trap heat much more efficiently than CO2, with some being tens of thousands of times more potent.