Do you want to make a difference?
Apply to volunteer with Farm Sanctuary at our New York or California sanctuary or from wherever you are nationwide!
Earth Day Is More Than a Celebration. It's a Call to Action!
Earth Day Is More Than a Celebration. It's a Call to Action!
Earth Day is a globally recognized event that plays a crucial role in turning environmental awareness into tangible impact, and volunteers help create lasting change.
Want another way to help? Here are just a few of the positive environmental impacts you can have simply by choosing to eat plant-based foods to withdraw your support from factory farming:
1. Protect wildlife and biodiversity
Agriculture imperils over 85 percent of the world’s threatened species, driving the loss of biodiversity crucial to our planet’s ecosystems. A 2016 scientific article published in Nature named agriculture a more significant danger than climate change (which is exacerbated by factory farming) to nearly 75 percent of the world’s threatened species.
2. Cut greenhouse gas emissions
Animal agriculture produces as much as 20 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is the largest contributor to U.S. methane emissions—a GHG even more potent than carbon dioxide. The good news is that, according to the United Nations, shifting to a plant-based diet can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 2.1 tons per year.
3. Preserve our forests
Over two-thirds of global agricultural land is used for animal agriculture, including grazing and growing crops to feed farmed animals. Factory farming is also a leading cause of forest destruction, with beef production alone accounting for 41 percent of tropical deforestation. On the other hand, a global shift toward plant-based diets would reduce agricultural land usage by an estimated 75 percent.
4. Prevent air and water pollution
Animal agriculture has been tied to 80 percent of the 15,900 annual U.S. deaths related to air pollution from our food system. Intensive animal farms produce and mismanage a massive amount of waste, which is often stored in open-air lagoons that can flood or seep into groundwater and waterways. The waste is also spread onto crops, impacting surrounding communities, particularly low-income residents and people of color. By choosing a plant-based diet, you can significantly decrease your contribution to emissions and water pollution.
You have the power to ensure a more sustainable future for animals, people, and the planet every time you eat. We can help you get started:
Here are simple tips for zero-waste vegan eating and a recipe for delicious waste-free broccoli soup!
Thank you for protecting the earth we share with all beings.
