Just a few consumer activities, such as driving cars and eating meat, are responsible for the majority of consumer-related environmental harm, according to a book released Tuesday by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Our book shows people how to focus on those environmental choices that make the biggest difference. According to the analysis, cars and light trucks cause the most environmental damage overall and are responsible for nearly half of the toxic air pollution and more than one-quarter of the greenhouse gases traceable to household consumption. Because cars cause so much harm, even modest changes matter. Food is second only to transportation as a source of consumer-related environmental problems.
Red meat causes especially high amounts of environmental damage for the nutrition it delivers.
According to the book, cutting the average household's meat consumption in half would reduce food-related land use and common water pollution by 30 percent and 24 percent, respectively. People can also help the environment by buying organic foods. Consumers should either avoid using these items or take precautions. On the other hand, the Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that people stop worrying about choices, like cloth vs. disposable diapers, that involve alternatives whose differences are insignificant. No one should feel guilty about modest use of such things as spray cans, paper napkins and polystyrene cups.