Alan Cumming Urges COP26 to Go Vegan

This morning, actor Alan Cumming sent a letter on PETA’s behalf to MP Alok Sharma, the president of the 26^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), urging him to ensure only vegan food is served at the event. The proud Scot points out that the meat and dairy industries are a leading cause of the climate crisis the Glasgow-based event is seeking to combat.

“Given that animal agriculture contributes to many of the serious environmental problems the planet is facing, I hope you’ll agree that serving meat while trying to fight climate change is like serving beer at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

If the goal of the COP26 summit is to protect the planet – as well as promote compassionate, responsible behaviour – animal-derived foods have no place on the menu.”

– Alan Cumming

Vegan Eating Is Better for the Environment

The fishing, meat, dairy, and egg industries not only are cruel to animals but also cause catastrophic damage to the environment. For decades, the United Nations (UN) has identified animal agriculture as a leading cause of deforestation, pollution, ocean dead zones, habitat loss, species extinction, and zoonotic disease spread.

According to the UN, animal agriculture is responsible for 14% to 18% of global greenhouse-gas emissions – which, by some estimates, is more than all forms of transportation combined.

Vegan foods have a far smaller carbon footprint than their animal-based equivalents, even when comparing imported plant proteins to flesh from grass-fed, locally farmed animals. And a switch to vegan eating can reduce food-related carbon emissions by 73%.

Simply put, going vegan is one of the best ways to reduce your impact on the environment.