Whether it be the fires in the Amazon or the melting of the ice caps, new environmental crises arise every day.

As the climate change stakes rise, many people are taking it into their own hands by changing their habits and behaviors. According to polling taken by The Pew Research Center the "majority of U.S. adults (56%) say protecting the environment should be a top priority for the president and Congress." This is a dramatic change from decades before.

There have been public trends such as the ditching of plastic straws for metal, and the move for corporations like Coca-Cola Co. to leave The Plastics Industry Association (From MarketWatch), as well as the increase in popularity of electric brands like Tesla, Inc. While every act to live a more "green" lifestyle is a step in the right direction, many ignore the simplest and most impactful way to propel change, their diet.

You may have heard that a plant-based diet can lower your chances of diabetes, heart disease, and many of the ailments contributed to obesity. But according to recent reports from the UN in order to fight climate change, a plant-based diet is essential.

Current cultures, especially those in the western world, are consuming more meat than ever (from the World Research Institute). As consumption of meat increases, with it, the resources to produce the animal's increases.

Like many of those who choose to follow a plant-based diet, I was first allured by the compassion at the center of the vegan lifestyle. As I became more passionate about my newfound diet, I discovered the plentiful benefits to myself and humanity as a whole.

To my surprise, what I found was that my diet was the largest contributor to my environmental footprint.

Had I known that the burger on my plate was playing a role in the occurrence of extreme weather events and the rising of coastal waters, I would have made the switch far earlier.

There are many steps that may be taken by those opting to make an impact, and what you put on your plate is one of the simplest and most impactful.

Here are a few:

Ditch Beef

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Yes, everyone favorite steak and burgers are the worst for the environment. Raising cattle is a "triple threat" to the climate. The animals alone produce large amounts of methane gas and require immense amounts of water.

In fact, according to The US Government, a pound of beef on average requires over 1800 gallons of water to produce.

Cows also need a lot of space to graze or so they did before factory farming became the most common way to farm. Now instead of grazing lands, corporations look to deforestation in order to plant the grains, such as soy and wheat, to feed their livestock.

Choose Dairy Alternatives

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Dairy being primarily a product of cow comes with the same side effects. The cows which are alive for far longer than those bred for meat, take up even more resources.

In addition, dairy cows only produce milk when pregnant and are kept so continuously, continuing the wasteful cycle. Don't fret, with the expansion of dairy alternatives, there are many alternatives, such as my favorite oat milk.

Even for the cheese lovers out there, things like cashew cheese and soy cheese are passable and in some cases better than the real thing.

Introduce Meat Free Days

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Meatless Monday is often a starting point to build off of. The fact is that every little bit helps.

Even if an individual is not able to commit to a fully vegan lifestyle now, each serving of animal product that is replaced by a plant-based one significantly helps the reduction of waste and pollutants.

And from experience, the more an individual experiments with plant-based food, the more they are likely to make the change fully.

Educate Yourself

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Thanks to the digital age, there is now, more than ever, an abundance of resources and information for the general public.

Organizations like PETA may be polarizing and political, but they have plenty of statistics and studies, as well as recipes and recommendations that everyone can utilize.

Films and documentaries are also a great source of information and tend to make the problem more realistic and the solution more tangible.