Our environment today

Some of the facts

The beef and dairy industries combined contribute to 91% of deforestation, a third of the earth’s water use, 46% of land use and 51% of greenhouse gas emissions. They are the leading cause of species extinction and drastic climate change. The animals in these industries excrete 164 times more faecal waste (raw sewage) than humans worldwide.

'Livestock' farming uses 69% of agricultural land in South Africa. According to the April 2015 Nedbank-World Wildlife Fund report on Farming Facts and Futures, the dairy industry is responsible for 59% of carbon emissions and 99% of water use in South Africa, a semi-arid country facing water restrictions!

Worldwide, forests are being ravaged to plant palm trees (to feed the global demand for palm oil) or to establish factory farming. This is leading to a devastating loss of habitat for many species, among them orangutans. The use of pesticides is leading to a decline in bee populations, which could compromise the survival of all species, including humans.

It is clear that only a move to veganism or a fully plant-based diet can turn this dire situation around and begin to restore balance in the ecosystem.