The planet’s vital signs are getting worse. One of the easiest fixes is your diet.

A recent report reveals that Earth's vital systems are deteriorating rapidly due to climate change. The seventh annual State of the Climate report, published in BioScience, highlights concerning trends in key climate indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, sea-level rise, glacier thickness, and ice mass. These changes indicate that global warming is already impacting the planet today, rather than being a distant warning.

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide levels have reached record highs this year, primarily due to burning fossil fuels. Glacier thickness and Greenland ice mass are at historic lows, and the planet's energy imbalance is increasing as it absorbs more solar energy. Of the 16 indicators examined, 44% are at record extremes. The report also examines human activities, particularly agriculture, which contribute to climate change through methane emissions from ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and goats.

These animals have reached record numbers since the 1960s, and per capita meat consumption has hit an all-time high in 2024. Ripple, a lead author of the report, emphasizes that shifting towards plant-based diets, especially in countries with high meat consumption, could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, reducing meat consumption could alleviate deforestation, which contributes to warming by eliminating carbon sinks.

Ripple stresses that there is no way to address global warming without changing what we eat and how it's produced, as our demand for meat puts immense pressure on the climate, land, and water resources.