Tip #9 – Surprisingly, thanks to flatulence, livestock production creates one-fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases — which is more than our transportation carbon footprint. It’s estimated that if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 2%, it would have the same effect as trading in all of our standard sedans for hybrids. In addition, it takes 2600 gallons of water to produce a serving of steak, compared to only 6 gallons of water to grow a serving of lettuce. And to top it off, the average food product travels 1500 miles to get to our grocery stores.

So put down your knife and eat more veggies, beans, rice, pasta and tofu instead of red meat. Try Meatless Mondays. Check out Food, Inc. — a film documenting the raising of animals on factory farms — livestock is fed corn (rather than allowed to graze freely and eat grass) and their overall treatment is inhumane and disgusting. I’m not trying to gross you out, it’s just the facts. And I’m not referring to the farmers who are responsible in their fair treatment of their animals – they should be supported, but in fact, they account for only a fraction of producers.

Earth Day is Friday, April 22 – we’re providing a green tip of the day from April 1-22.

(source: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)

photo credit: Food, Inc.

Related: previously on altCon – more green tips