Production of carbon appears to be heating up the earth. The argument goes that if we heat it up more than a couple of degrees there will be big problems. There is likely to be flooding from rising sea levels, fighting over water supplies, extinction of animal, bird and plant species, starvation from crop failure, epidemics affecting plants, birds, animals, humans.

There's debate over when and if all or any of the above events will happen. But in general there is a consensus that it is down to each of us in the industrialised world to make some changes in our own lifestyles.

On average in the UK each of us produces about 2.6 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. This needs to come down to 0.33 within the next 20 years.

I think most of us are aware of the need to try and fly less (if at all) and substitute public transport for private car use.

But not so many people seem to have realised that eating a plant based diet can reduce your carbon emissions.

This works because animal farming is an inefficient use of resources. You have to feed more crops to animals than if you fed the humans directly with plants. One third of the grain grown world wide is fed to farm animals. This food could be made available for hungry people but not if everyone wants to eat meat. Animal farming is also responsible for production of methane and nitrous oxide.

Beef production uses 100,000 litres per kg beef produced. Farm animals convert between5 and 15% of the food they eat in to meat or eggs or milk.

Ammonia and nitrates from farm animal waste and artificial fertilizer pollutes ground and surface water.

Land used to graze cattle or grow foodcrops for farm animals is not sustainable. A vegan diet requires 1/8 of the land needed to feed a meat eater.

One days food for a meat eater needs 15 000 litres of water, 5000 litres for a vegetarian, 1150 for a vegan

One days food for a meat eater needs 34000 calories of fossil energy, almost 20000 for a vegetarian, 10000 for a vegan

The vegan diet needs less land, water and fuel.

All in all the world is in a bad state. But each of us can make a difference by exercising some choices in the kitchen. Going vegan is going to decrease your cost to the planet. Its also going to taste great, and will lessen the suffering of your fellow humans, other animals, birds, fish and potentially make you healthier.

What are you waiting for?