To save the planet, it's time to go vegan.
That is the conclusion from a new leaked report from the United Nations that calls for a "great food transformation" towards totally plant-based diets.
The IPCC says that current approached to tackle climate change by cutting carbon emissions from transports, manufacturing and power plants will not be enough to prevent catastrophic changes in our climate.
So we need to go after our diets.
The report estimates that a significant 25-30% of greenhouse gases are produced as a result of the full food sector supply chain.
Also claimed is that half of all methane emissions come from cattle raised for meat production, and that the deforestation of bogs to create further land for cattle (or the growing of grains to feed such cattle) produces significant levels of carbon emissions.
Cows, pigs and other farm animals release huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere. While there is less methane in the atmosphere than other greenhouse gases, it is around 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat.
Some studies have shown that going vegetarian can reduce the carbon emissions from food per person by half. Going vegan can reduce this further still.
“The consumption of healthy and sustainable diets, such as those based on coarse grains, pulses and vegetables, and nuts and seeds … presents major opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” the UN body advises.
The report also says there will be some 9.8 billion people on Earth by 2050. That in turn means 56% more food will need to be produced versus 2010.
 In fact, the UN report estimates that if current food consumption habits relative to meat and dairy products rises proportionately, about six million square kilometres (2.3 million square miles) of forests would need to be converted to agricultural use. That is an area twice the size of India.
One way or another, it seems something the size of India is going to need adjustment.
Another report report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) proposes to convert areas the size of India to biofuel crops or CO2-absorbing trees, the UK's Daily Mail reports.
Many climatologists are pushing a two-step process that draws down CO by growing biofuels, and then captures CO2 released when the plants are burned to generate energy.
The amount of "bioenergy with carbon capture and storage," or BECCS, required in coming decades will depend on how quickly fossil fuels or phased on and CO2 emissions are reduced.
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