研究：少吃肉既健康又環保

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

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 "substantial 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 Sao 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 livestock 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."

The study was published in The Lancet medical journal as part of a series in climate change and health ahead of the Copenhagen global climate summit scheduled next month.

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.

Andrew Haines, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and head of the research series, said delegates at Copenhagen needed "to understand the potential health impacts of their plans."

科學家於本週三稱，如果將最愛食肉國家的肉類生產和消費量減少30%，那麼將有助於減少碳排放和改善人們健康。

英國和澳大利亞的研究人員通過使用預測模型進行研究後發現，僅靠提高能源使用率、增加碳收集以及降低農業對礦物燃料的依賴還不足以實現減排目標。

但研究人員稱，如果在此基礎上將肉類主要生產國的家畜產量和肉類消費分別降低30%，則可“極大增進人們的健康”，同時減少碳排放。

研究發現，在英國，如果成年人攝入的動物飽和脂肪量減少30%，那麼因心臟病而早逝的病例數可減少17%，相當於一年避免1.8萬例早死病例。

研究人員稱，在巴西聖保羅市，這意味着每年可避免一千個早死病例。

聯合國糧農組織的數據顯示，18%的溫室氣體排放來自於肉類生產。專家稱，到2030年，不斷增長的肉類需求，尤其是發展中經濟體的肉類需求，將推動家畜產量在2000年的基礎上增長85%。

科學家表示，世界各國需採取行動，將減少肉類生產消費的益處最大化，由此產生的環境優勢“可能只適用於目前肉類生產量較高的國家”。

該研究報告在《柳葉刀》醫學期刊上發表，在下月的哥本哈根全球環境峯會召開前，該雜誌刊發了一系列有關氣候變化與健康的文章。

在另一項研究中，英國科學家發現，在富裕和中等收入國家，多走路騎車、少開車對於健康的益處比乘坐低排放量的交通工具要大很多。

該系列研究的負責人、倫敦衛生與熱帶醫學院主任安德魯•海恩斯稱，哥本哈根峯會的與會代表們需“認清他們制定的計劃對於健康的潛在影響”。

Vocabulary:

carbon capture：碳收集，碳捕獲

avert: to ward off; prevent（防止，避免）