研究：少吃肉既健康又环保

研究：少吃肉既健康又环保

发表时间：2010-11-10T14:32:32.250Z 来源：《英语周报》（高中教师版）2010年第12期供稿作者：常温

[导读] 研究人员称，在巴西圣保罗市，这意味着每年可避免一千个早死病例。

常温

Cutting meat production and consump-tion by 30 percent would help to reduce carbon emissions and improve health in the most meat-loving nations, scientists said recently.

Using prediction models, British and Australian researchers found that improving efficiency, increasing carbon capture and reducing fossil fuel dependence in farming would not be enough to meet emissions targets. But combining these steps with a 30 percent reduction in livestock production in major meat-producing nations and a similar cut in meat-eating, would lead to “substan tial population health benefits”and cut emissions, they said.

The study found that in Britain, a 30 percent lower intake of animal-source saturated fat by adults would reduce the number of premature deaths from heart disease by some 17 percent—equivalent to 18,000 premature deaths averted in one year.

In San Paulo, Brazil, it could mean as many as 1,000 premature deaths averted in a year, they said.

According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions are from meat production and experts say rising demand for meat, particularly in countries with growing economies, could drive live-stock production up by 85 percent from 2000 levels by 2030.

The scientists said global action was needed to maximize the benefits of cutting meat production and consumption, and that the environmental advantages “may apply only in those countries that currently have high production levels”.

In a second study, British scientists found that increased walking and cycling, and fewer cars, would have a much greater impact on health than low-emission vehicles in rich and middle-income countries.

科学家最近称，如果将最爱食肉国家的肉类生产和消费量减少30%，那么将有助于减少碳排放和改善人们的健康状况。

英国和澳大利亚的研究人员通过使用预测模型进行研究后发现，仅靠提高能源使用率尧增加碳收集以及降低农业对矿物燃料的依赖还不足以实现减排目标。但研究人员称，如果在此基础上将肉类主要生产国的家畜产量和肉类消费分别降低30%，则可“极大地增进人们的健康”，同时减少碳排放。

研究发现，在英国，如果成年人摄入的动物饱和脂肪量减少30%，那么因心脏病而早逝的病例可减少17%，相当于一年避免1.8 万个早死病例。

研究人员称，在巴西圣保罗市，这意味着每年可避免一千个早死病例。

联合国粮农组织的数据显示，18%的温室气体排放来自于肉类生产。专家称，到2030 年，不断增长的肉类需求，尤其是发展中经济体的肉类需求将推动家畜产量在2000 年的基础上增长85%。

科学家表示，世界各国需采取行动，将减少肉类生产消费的益处最大化，由此产生的环境优势“可能只适用于目前肉类生产量较高的国家”。

在另一项研究中，英国科学家发现，在富裕和中等收入国家，多走路骑车尧少开车对于健康的益处比乘坐低排放量的交通工具要大很多。