Ethics and environment
Does veganism help the climate?
Short answer
Yes, especially by cutting beef, lamb and dairy. Animal farming is a large share of greenhouse gases, land use and water per calorie and per gram of protein.
Poore and Nemecek (Science, 2018) show that even “best” beef and dairy usually beat plant proteins on impact. That does not make shipped avocado footprint-free — it means swapping a steak for lentils outweighs arguing about a straw.
Local vegetables plus fewer animal products is the most stable climate food move an individual can make several times a day.