From peta.org
“Utopia or real scenario?” That’s the question National Geographic posed today in its front-page feature on PETA Germany’s bold white paper detailing exactly what would happen if Germany went vegan tomorrow, and spoiler alert: The future looks brighter, greener, and kinder.
This unprecedented coverage shows just how mainstream the conversation about being vegan has become, thanks in part to PETA entities’ years of pushing the boundaries of what’s not only possible, but essential. And if a vegan Germany can be achieved, imagine what will happen when the world follows suit.
National Geographic’s headline feature, “Vegan Germany: What Would Happen If We Stopped Eating Animal Products?” explores the sweeping transformation that would occur if Germany phased out animal agriculture, using data and solutions from PETA Germany’s white paper co-authored by Lisa Kainz and Martin Müller.
What If the Country Went Vegan? Here’s What PETA Germany Found
1. Goodbye, Factory Farms
A staggering 89% of animal flesh sold in Germany comes from facilities colloquially referred to as factory farms, where animals suffer in small cages or jam-packed sheds, often living in their own waste. Factory farms that use misleading “free-range” or “cage-free” labels aren’t any better—at these facilities, workers still slice off the ends of hens’ beaks and chop off cows’ horns, typically without pain relief. A vegan Germany would spare hundreds of millions of these sensitive, feeling animals annually.
2. Big Win for the Climate
Animal agriculture is a major driver of greenhouse gases, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and over-fertilization. Cutting out animal agriculture could slash at least 113 million tons of CO₂ emissions every year—that’s about one-seventh of Germany’s total emissions!
3. More Space for Crops, Nature, and Biodiversity
Currently, more than 60% of German farmland is used to grow animal feed. Going vegan would free up land to grow food for humans. Plus, freed-up farmland could be turned back into forests, wetlands, and green spaces that soak up carbon and bring back wildlife. Water usage would also dramatically decrease.
4. Healthier Food for All
With more land and resources to grow healthy crops, a vegan food system would boost public health and make food production more efficient and secure.
5. Economic Opportunity
PETA Germany found that with smart policies, phasing out animal agriculture could save billions and create opportunities. For starters, the government could adjust taxes to make vegan foods cheaper while making animal-based products reflect their true environmental and social costs. Right now, meat seems cheap at the store, but taxpayers foot the bill for things like pollution cleanup, health care costs related to meat-heavy diets, and subsidies for factory farms. Reforming this system could help level the playing field and make sustainable food choices easier for everyone.
The Real Reason the World Must Go Vegan
PETA has long said that animal agriculture is incompatible with a livable planet, and now mainstream science, policymakers, and global institutions are catching up. From supporting farmers in transitioning to animal-free systems to calling for a tax overhaul that reflects the true cost of meat, PETA Germany’s plan lays out exactly how to make the shift.
According to the U.N., a global shift toward animal-free food is vital to combating the worst effects of the climate catastrophe. It’s a powerful, practical solution to some of the biggest challenges we face: chronic disease, the climate catastrophe, hunger, and animal suffering.
You should go vegan for all these reasons, and one more that matters just as much: because every animal is someone. Our fellow animals are individuals who feel pain, fear, and love, just as we do.
https://www.peta.org/blog/national-geographic-peta-germany/
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