the study "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Chinese Buddhists Eating a Vegetarian Diet: A Quantification" was published in the multidisciplinary journal Contemporary Buddhism
Its author is Prof. Ampere A. Tseng* from Arizona State University (ASU) in the USA. The study's quantification indicates that Chinese Buddhists reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 39.68 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent , which is comparable to 7.2% of all emissions recorded in the UK in 2012 (or 9.2 % in France in the same year).
To obtain these results, data from a national study was analyzed, the number of vegetarians among Chinese Buddhists was estimated, and different approaches were used to predict the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the case of a vegetarian diet. “In the modern era, the practice of vegetarianism from Chinese Buddhism should attract more followers among Buddhists and lay people if the added environmental and health benefits of vegetarianism are emphasized. The net impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions could be even greater, and human-caused global warming could be reduced,” the study states.
Contrary to common misconception, vegetarianism is not mandatory for followers of Buddhism. However, many spiritual leaders (including modern ones: Thich Nhat Hanh, the 14th Dalai Lama, Urgyen Trinley Dorje and others) recognize the significant benefits of such nutrition from both an ethical and environmental point of view.
* Ampere Tseng received his PhD in mechanical engineering in 1978 and has published over 200 technical papers, received numerous grants from government agencies and industry representatives, and awards from various universities and laboratories. In 2000 and 2003, he became a visiting professor at three different universities in China.
See also anekdotig:
- Newsletter: " Climatarians - a new trend in ecology and nutrition " (August 19, 2016)
- News: " UN proposes to improve the environment by introducing a tax on meat production " (May 27, 2016)
- Newsletter: " Scientists from Oxford calculate how global vegetarianism and veganism will help health and ecology " (March 22, 2016)
- Newsletter: " Buddhist World Leaders Release Message to Paris United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) " (October 30, 2015)
- Article: “ Why and how does animal husbandry harm the environment? »
- Article: “ E.S. Dalai Lama XIV: Ecology and the human heart .
- Article: " The 'China Study' for Vegetarianism ".
From my experience in Chinese vegetarian cafes / canteens in Asia (usually they open under some kind of Buddhist organizations), I note that their vegetarianism is usually a strict option, i.e. veganism (since dairy products are also excluded from the composition of the dishes).