The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report this month on the environmental dangers of meat production. According to the report, livestock are responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions - more than that of cars, trucks and planes put together.

Cattle are by far the biggest offenders. Ranching is a major cause of deforestation, and farmlands are being turned into deserts by overgrazing. Dairy cows require massive amounts of water, taking 990 litres of water to produce a single litre of milk. Fertilizers, antibiotics and feedlot waste cause health issues for humans and the land alike. And cows are major contributors of methane, one of the most troublesome greenhouse gases contributing to global warming.

The full report, entitled Livestock's Long Shadow, is available online here.

Now - we're not saying you should eat nothing but tofu over the holidays. But cutting back on your meat consumption is just one small thing you can do to keep from perpetuating the problem. As privileged humans in wealthy countries, we've come to expect that meat - whether it's beef, pork, chicken or fish - should be part of every meal. It's not good for our bodies, and it's not good for the environment - give it some thought when you're browsing that restaurant menu.