As a child, my family and I loved going to zoos. We approached the animals locked in their 1 by 1 meter cages and caressed them for hours. So, naturally, we would all go home just to see one of their relatives on my plate that evening. Plant-based lifestyles are constantly in the spotlight and are a growing trend in the media. Personally, due to internal debates about the morality of eating meat, a year and a half ago, I decided to change my lifestyle and become a vegetarian. While this decision started out because of my personal morals, it turned into something much bigger than that. As time went on and I learned more about the lifestyle, I realized how much of an impact everyone can have by being vegetarian. Indeed, by adopting a plant-based lifestyle, people have the ability to reduce climate change, improve animal welfare and even improve their personal health; thus demonstrating how even a small change in lifestyle can produce substantial results. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The most important thing we can do in our lives to stop climate change is to stop eating animals immediately. In fact, the use of animals for food is one of the most destructive technologies on Earth. The main reason for this is due to the fact that the livestock industry is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is well known that global warming is a major issue that affects us all, and as the demand for meat is expected to double by 2050, we need to do something ASAP. The impact of the meat industry on the environment is so significant that, if we stay on course until 2050, feeding plants will lead to the clearing of more of the world's remaining forests, the elimination of thousands of species and the release of greenhouse gas emissions above 1.5 C and 2 C warming targets enshrined in the Paris Agreement, even if emissions from all other human activities were completely eliminated. But not only does the meat industry play a major role in climate change, it has also contributed to large amounts of pollution and excessive water use. As the demand for meat increases, so does the demand for fresh water. A 2013 study found that agriculture uses up to 92% of our fresh water, of which almost a third is related to animal products. The meat industry is not only consuming all our fresh water, but it is also polluting the precious amount we have left with various fertilizers, pesticides, organic matter, pathogens, and emerging pollutants. When meat consumption has such a negative impact on the environment, humans have to decide if their next burger is really worth it. The meat industry not only has enormous effects on the environment, but can also have substantial negative effects on health. It is more or less commonly known that eating meat not only increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer, but can do much more for your health. In fact, eating meat can become very dangerous. Due to the use of antibiotics that are regularly mixed into pig and cattle feed to protect and fatten them, this can promote antibiotic resistance in humans, which is predicted to cause ten million deaths per year by 2050. Additionally , bacterial infections such as salmonella and campylobacter can be transmitted to humans and?”