The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee Plant-Based Diet Cuts Your Carbon Footprint In Half | New Study With Dr. Hana Kahleova
Nov 25, 2025
Dr. Hana Kahleova, a physician and researcher known for her work in plant-based nutrition, sheds light on a groundbreaking study revealing the environmental benefits of vegan diets. Discover how adopting plant-based foods can dramatically reduce land and water use, with vegan options using up to 8 times less land. The striking results show potential reductions of greenhouse gases by nearly half, while participants lost significant weight. They also explore unexpected health benefits, including improved lung function, marking a win for both personal and planetary health.
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Plant-Based Diet Uses Far Less Land
- The standard American diet requires over eight times more land than a vegan diet to support one person.
- Animal agriculture drives this gap because it needs land to grow feed plus space for the animals themselves.
Beef Dominates Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Beef produces about 60 kg CO2-equivalents per kilogram, far exceeding plant foods.
- Plant-based proteins emit roughly 100 times less greenhouse gases than beef per kilogram.
Vegan Meals Slash Warming Potential And Water Use
- A cafeteria study found vegan meals had 28× lower global warming potential and used 85× less water than standard meals.
- Vegan options also scored highest for nutritional quality in that experiment.