Why Meat is the Best Worst Thing in
the World
Source: Kurzgesagt Youtube Channel
Introduction
• Humans love meat: steak, fried
chicken, bacon, and sausages.
• Meat consumption is
widespread, making meals feel
incomplete without it.
• A few decades ago, meat was a
luxury; today, a cheeseburger
costs just one dollar.
• However, meat production is
inefficient and harmful to the
planet.
The Impact of
Meat
Production
• The world raises billions of
animals for food:
- 23 billion chickens
- 1.5 billion cows
- Nearly 1 billion pigs and sheep
• 83% of farmland is used for
livestock, covering 26% of the
Earth's land.
• The meat industry consumes
27% of the world’s freshwater.
Inefficiency in
Meat
Production
• Most of what animals eat is
used for survival, not for meat
production.
• Cows convert only 4% of plant
protein and 3% of calories into
beef.
• Producing 1kg of beef requires:
- 25kg of grain
- 15,000 liters of water.
• Animal products provide only
18% of human calorie intake.
Environmental
Consequences
• Livestock farming is responsible for 15%
of global greenhouse gas emissions—
equal to all transportation emissions
combined.
• Deforestation and land degradation
result from meat production.
Ethical Concerns: The
Treatment of Animals
• 200 million animals are killed daily (~74 billion
annually).
• Many suffer in factory farms:
- Pigs in overcrowded pens
- Dairy cows forcibly impregnated, separated
from calves
- Chickens confined in tiny cages, leading to
beak/claw removal
- Male chicks culled at birth due to economic
inefficiency.
Is Organic Meat
a Solution?
• Organic farming aims for
better animal welfare, but
regulations vary.
• EU regulations allow 5
chickens per square meter.
• Organic meat requires
even more resources,
making it costly
environmentally.
The Dilemma
of Eating Meat
• Meat is delicious and
culturally significant.
• Most people never see
how it’s produced, making it
easier to ignore its impact.
• Eating meat doesn’t make
you bad, and avoiding it
doesn’t necessarily make
you good.
Possible
Solutions
• Reduce meat consumption: One
meat-free day per week helps.
• Choose responsible sources:
Support ethical producers.
• Pick efficient meats: Chicken and
pork have lower environmental costs
than beef.
• Avoid food waste: 0.5kg of food is
wasted daily per person.
• Future alternatives: Lab-grown
meat is being developed.
Conclusion
• Enjoy meat, but consume it
responsibly.
• Treat it as a special food, not
an everyday item.
• Small changes help the
environment and reduce
suffering.
