The food you eat says a lot about your carbon footprint, which is why on April 22, PETA’s celebrating the second annual “Go Vegan for the Earth” Day, a campaign urging everyone to go vegan for the day, at least.

What Is Earth Day?

Fifty-three years ago, 20 million Americans celebrated the inaugural Earth Day when they took to the streets to demonstrate for a clean, livable environment. Now, Earth Day activism comes in many different forms.

This year, whether you’re hosting an Earth Day luncheon, getting a to-go latte in a reusable coffee mug instead of a plastic one, or taking a turn cooking dinner for your roommates, choosing vegan foods and drinks is the way to do good for the planet.

Every individual who is vegan saves 1,100 gallons of water, nearly 40 pounds of grain, and 30 square feet of forested land each day. So if planet Earth means the world to you (see what we did there?), do it a favor: Go vegan!

What Do You Do for Earth Day?

There are lots of ways to celebrate your “Go Vegan for the Earth” Day pledge! You can share fun facts with your friends on Twitter—tell them that not eating a pound of beef saves more water than not showering for six months. Or you can bring a vegan dessert to the office or to any gathering to share (or post a photo of your favorite vegan recipe on Instagram if you’re still working from home). Learn more about animal agriculture’s effects on the Earth by hosting a Cowspiracy movie party or a Seaspiracy Netflix party (use Teleparty or Zoom to watch with your friends remotely). And of course, the number one way to honor Mother Earth on April 22 (or any ol’ day) is to choose vegan food.

What Is the Theme for Earth Day 2024?

You heard it here first: The theme for this year is “Go Vegan for the Earth” Day! The climate catastrophe is scary, but vegan food is delicious and humane—and opting for it is one of the most effective actions anyone can take fight climate change. In fact, a University of Oxford study shows that meat-eaters are responsible for almost twice as many dietary greenhouse-gas emissions per day as vegetarians and about two and a half times as many as vegans. So if you’re wondering, “How can I make a difference on Earth Day?” or “How do we make every day Earth Day?” you’re in luck. Opting for vegan foods—whether for takeaway or in the kitchen—is one of the simplest and most surefire ways we can help ensure a sustainable future.

Living on Mother Earth is one of the things humans and all other animals have in common (along with a will and a right to live), and—through their remarkable characteristics and talents—other animals are doing their part to keep her healthy: Bees and other insects pollinate plants, including one-third of the food we humans eat; beavers create dams that prevent flooding and erosion; squirrels abandon seeds and nuts, which take root and establish trees and other plants in new locations; and birds pollinate plants (like bees), spread seeds (like squirrels), and maintain sustainable population levels naturally (as opposed to some humans, like hunters).

Let’s be remarkable like other animals: This April 22, help our planet and spare animals suffering by going vegan.

Just as there’s a crossover between animal rights and other social justice issues (e.g., the food justice movement), being anti-speciesist and fighting for our planet’s survival go hand in hand. When it comes to the climate catastrophe, which disproportionately affects communities of color and already vulnerable people, animal agriculture is a leading culprit.

© iStock.com/narvikk

Slash and burn agriculture in the Amazon | Matt Zimmerman | CC BY 2.0

We can all help halt the climate catastrophe and other environmental problems (such as ocean dead zones, water pollution, species extinction, and deforestation, just to name a few) by eating vegan foods rather than animal-derived ones and urging our friends and social media followers to do the same. On April 22, share photos of your planet-friendly, plant-based dishes on Instagram—don’t forget to tag @peta and include the hashtag #VeganForEarthDay.

Tell your pals that you’re going vegan for the Earth Day, and encourage them to try it, too—share this post on Facebook and Twitter.

Tell local restaurants that you’re going vegan for the Earth Day, and encourage them to join in—ask them to promote an existing vegan option or a new one for Earth Day by displaying PETA’s free “Vegan for the Earth Day” sign in their front window as well as on social media with the hashtag #VeganForEarthDay.

Take the ‘Go Vegan for the Earth’ Day Pledge