Green Your New Year’s Resolution: Eat Less Meat

Happy new year! You may have already committed to the bulk of your resolutions, but deepening your shade of green will do us all good. This week, we’ll be giving you easy-to-stick-to ways to make 2009 greener.

Tip #2: Eat Less Meat

The statistics say it all:

Livestock production generates almost 20 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases — more than the entire transportation sector. If Americans reduced meat consumption by just 20 percent, it would be as though we all switched from a sedan to a hybrid. (New York Times)

Animal factory farms pollute U.S. waterways more than all other industrial sources combined. And you’d save more water by refraining from eating a pound of beef than you would by not showering for an entire year. (E - The Environmental Magazine)

Producing 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of beef emits more carbon dioxide than does going for a three-hour drive while leaving all the lights on at home. (The Guardian)

Those who can’t cut out meat entirely might decide to be carnivorous on only one or two days of the week.

What are your ecofriendly New Year’s resolutions? Please tell us in the space for comments below.