January: Meatless Mondays

The Challenge: Eat Less Meat!

Why?

By the most conservative estimates, the raising of livestock accounts for nearly 15% of global greenhouse gases. Cows are among the worst offenders as they generate methane while digesting their food. If cattle were their own nation, they would be the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

If 50% of the world’s population were to restrict their diet to a healthy 2,500 calories per day and reduces meat consumption, an estimated 26.7 gigatons of emissions could be avoided from dietary change alone.*

How?

Meatless Mondays is an achievable goal that allows you to explore more plant-based foods that you can then could incorporate into your diet. Cutting down on your meat intake with one vegetarian day a week is a small step in the right direction.

Fish Free Friday is another way to participate. Global fish stocks are being overharvested and large-scale fisheries destroy sensitive ocean ecosystems, threatening climate stability and global food security. Over 90% of the world’s marine stocks are fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted. Hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic waste from discarded and lost fish gear enters the oceans each year, and as much as 40% of the world’s catch is bycatch of unwanted species, as well as endangered sharks, rays, marine mammals, and seabirds.**

Not enough of a challenge? Try becoming vegetarian for the entire month…or if you already are, then try being vegan for the month.