Recent headlines about a study that suggests going vegan would save 8 million lives and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% has, as expected, brought out all the haters: all the haters of plant-based diets, but especially of vegans.

Cue the chorus of excuses found in the comments sections of articles on the aforementioned study:

“Animals are meant to be eaten.”

“So do plants’ lives not matter?” 

“Eating vegetables would still require deforestation.” 

“That stat is inaccurate so I’m going to keep eating meat.” 

The concept of meat consumption causing species extinction will probably unfold the same way climate change has. There will be a lot of resistance and denial, but more and more people will slowly begin to accept that it’s a real issue, as its symptoms become increasingly evident and can no longer be ignored or dismissed.