The Worldwatch Institute has released it´s Vital Signs 2007-2008 report, which highlights the key factors contributing to climate change.

“You see many trends in climate change, whether we are talking about grain production which is affected by droughts and flooding. Or meat production as livestock production makes up about 20 percent of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Erik Assadourian, director of the Vital Signs project.

The report shows that meat production hit a record of 276 million metric tonnes in 2006 (43 kilograms or 95 pounds per person).

The rising consumption of meat is also one of the main factors contributing to the rain forests of South America being cleared for soy bean plantations. Assadourian fears that 22 million hectares of forest and savannah could be cleared to grow soy beans in the next 20 years.

The report also points out that the consumption of fish has grown by three times since 1950, at a massive 156 million metric tonnes of seafood, even though many fish species are becoming threatened.

There´s just one report after another telling us the same fact – meat is destroying our planet.

You can buy the full report here