What you choose for lunch today could help save a polar bear.

I’m serious. Bear with me on this one.

We’ve all seen the image: A polar bear drifts helplessly at sea on an ever-shrinking sheet of ice. What more iconic symbol is there of our devastating impact on the climate and the animals who share this planet with us?

Pushed to the brink, his desperation mirrors that of so many of us left frustrated by the failure of governments to curb the climate crisis.

But while we wait for policymakers to find the courage to truly act, there’s also something profound that you, me, and everyone, can do today to help heal our planet in a big way. It’s simple. And the impact is, well, huge…

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Today is Earth Day, and I invite you to join me in rising up to one of the biggest polluters and drivers of deforestation on the planet: animal agribusiness.

Few people realize that 80% of rainforest destruction is caused by the cattle industry. Or that if everyone in the world followed the unhealthy, meat-centric diet that’s common to the US, we’d need five Earths to sustain us. These are just some of the shocking facts that wealthy agribusiness industries have tried to keep hidden.

Which brings me back to today’s lunch. By choosing a plant-based meal today, you can cast a vote for a kinder, more compassionate world. And not just for polar bears—for climate refugees, exploited workers, the biodiversity of our planet, ocean wildlife, and the billions of animals who suffer in factory farms.

We are all connected.

Industrial animal agriculture is endlessly damaging to the environment and all those it exploits. But millions of people are fighting back.

This Earth Day our volunteers are taking to social media in a virtual protest. As awareness grows, more people than ever before are cutting back or eliminating animal products in favor of kinder, more sustainable meals. And if ever you questioned if meat-free could go mainstream, just look at this Carl’s Jr. outlet serving up a fully plant-based menu in honor of Earth Day!

To be real, going vegetarian won’t save the planet alone. But with animal agriculture generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all the world’s transport combined, it will get us a long way there. What we consume, how we travel, the policies and organizations we support—it’s all important.

So whether you’re celebrating Earth Day by riding a bike, writing to a policymaker, sharing a thought-provoking read, or downloading a free plant-based cookbook and enjoying a delicious meal, thank you for all you do to protect our incredible planet and those we share it with.

David Coman-Hidy President