Reduced greenhouse gasses - Perhaps the most dramatic result of increased veganism will be the nearly immediate drop in atmosphere-damaging carbon emissions. The need to raise, feed, and process livestock for consumption increases demand for fossil fuel consumption; while also introducing damaging aerosols to the air via the refrigerated transportation units that meat requires. The faster turnaround in produce growth and lack of need for refrigerated units in transportation means that a vegan diet encourages a healthier atmosphere.

Reduced deforestation - The Amazon Rainforest has been taking heavy damages in recent decades – around 17% of the forest has been lost already – most of the lost forestry is tied directly to livestock rearing. Without the mass-production of livestock, forests could be saved and regrown to bolster the planet’s ability to remove carbon emissions from the air..

Reduced world hunger - Despite the lower caloric density of plants when compared to meat, the ability to produce more crops in a shorter timeframe would allow for more people to be fed with a lower carbon footprint – a win–win. 

Increased water conservation - Similar to the ability to feed more people with a plant-based diet, a reduction in livestock in the world will increase the availability of drinking water to people currently without. Not only do herds of livestock require massive amounts of water to hydrate and process, but the strain of polluted runoff from their pastures not only impacts the habitat of aquatic life, but also stifles the water system that provides clean water to any nearby human populace.

Economic Ramifications: It’s no secret that the dairy and meat industries are massive players in the world economy. While many meat-based-food companies have begun to invest in plant-based alternatives, it does remain to be seen if these companies – especially those in the dairy sector – will be able to stay afloat amid decreased demand. The United States Government invests heavily in dairy companies, meaning that having those companies fail could impact farmer subsidies within the country.

Irresponsible Farming - While the general impact on the environment by agriculture is certainly less than that of animal raising, there are damaging ways to farm. The use of pesticides can kill off vital natural players, such as bees, which ultimately collapses the ecology of the world. Similarly, not rotating crops and caring properly for the soil growing our food can completely deplete the nutrition of the earth, making the ground ungrowable. This exhaustion also lowers the soil’s ability to retain water and can lead to sandstorm-style blowouts. 

Thankfully for the vegan movement, the cons of going vegan are fixable! While it is important to know from where your produce is coming in order to avoid encouraging farms from using damaging pesticides, every meal consumed without animal products is a meal closer to a healthier world.