1.0HappyCowhttps://www.happycow.net/blogErinVaughanhttps://www.happycow.net/blog/author/erinvaughn/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="2SZ1yNROMN"><a href="https://www.happycow.net/blog/environmentally-ethical-diet/">How Environmentally Ethical Is Your Diet?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.happycow.net/blog/environmentally-ethical-diet/embed/#?secret=2SZ1yNROMN" width="600" height="338" title="“How Environmentally Ethical Is Your Diet?” — HappyCow" data-secret="2SZ1yNROMN" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://www.happycow.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/111.jpg1000667If you’re like most vegans, it was probably the humane treatment of animals that spurred your decision to quit animal products. But what you might not have realized is that you simultaneously dodged another bullet in the ethical eating dilemma: the environmental impact of your food. Meat and dairy farms have a pretty hefty “foodprint”—the measure of their carbon emissions from field to plate. Both generate large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, all greenhouse gases. Methane, in particular, has a heavy environmental toll. When allowed to seep freely into the air, it traps heat in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming. And while we tend to focus on the harmful effects of CO2 when we discuss the greenhouse effect, methane’s chemical makeup is even more adept at holding heat, molecule for molecule. And since methane results from the breakdown of organic materials—like manure—it’s of particular concern where livestock is involved. And there’s even more to consider—like your food’s water footprint. California’s drought brought attention to this issue like never before, with almonds and hummus both garnering some bad PR in the process. But there are worse water-hogs out there—and if you’re vegan, you’re avoiding the most […]