Want to help the environment? Eat less meat and reduce your heat. That's the message being sent home in a new video released by Arnold Schwarzenegger and his longtime friend and collaborator James Cameron. Together, they have created such iconic classics as The Terminator and True Lies. Now, they are joining forces for something far more important than surviving the summer heat in an air conditioned movie theater. They are attempting to help save the world in a unique way. And it is all part of WildAid's '5 To Do Today' climate action campaign.

The Chinese Nutrition Society and WildAid have teamed up to help reduce meat consumption in China, which is expected to rise by an astounding 50% by the year 2030. And this can only be curbed if people begin acting now. The campaign now has the support of Hollywood icons and climate activist, including Mr. Cameron and Mr. Schwarzenegger, along with China and the U.S.' fast rising superstar Li Bingbing. They've helped too create a unique comprehensive media campaign that includes billboards and TV PSA that will hopefully help people worldwide understand why this is such an important cause.

Others participating include the U.S.-based groups Climate Nexus and My Plate, with My Plate handling the English language versions of the upcoming PSAs. Today, we have a behind-the-scenes look at these PSAs, with the first ones being released over the course of the next few weeks. This comes in the wake of 5 To Do Today partnering with the Chinese Nutrition Society to launch billboards featuring a number of important Chinese celebrities. Arriving in May, these billboards were erected all throughout the country using various media outlets, and they were established in every province in China.

As many fans know, James Cameron, who is not only an accomplished filmmaker but an expert deep sea explorer, has long been an outspoken leader who has attempted to get people around the world to focus on animal agriculture, environmental and climate change issues. He has supported both Food Choice Taskforce and the My Planet initiative, a consortium of more than 200 environmental and health organizations. He says this about the latest inititive.

"China's move to cut meat consumption in half would not only have a huge impact on public health, it is also a massive leadership step towards drastically reducing carbon emissions and reaching the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Livestock emits more than all transportation combined. Reducing demand for animal-based foods is essential if we are to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius as agreed at COP21."

Also on board this latest campaign is former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has agreed to help his partner Cameron get the word out this summer. He has this to say about the inititive.

"As much as we in California have been leaders and have inspired China to go in the right direction with environmental issues, they are now inspiring us."

China currently boasts a population of 1.3 billion. The country's officials have a goal to cut meat consumption in half, helping to prevent heart disease, diabetes and other diet-related illnesses. And their efforts seem to be working thus far, as the public has displayed an opening willingness to follow some of the guidelines set forth. If the entire country continues to show support, eating less meat has th potential to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, as supported by the graph included below. said Professor Yang Yuexin, President of Chinese Nutrition Society in an interview with 5 To Do Today.

"Our national meat consumption is increasing every year. The increase is mainly from livestock such as pork and beef," said Professor Yang Yuexin, President of Chinese Nutrition Society in an interview with 5 To Do Today. "Much evidence has shown that long-term overconsumption of meat, especially processed meat, will impose adverse effects on our body, affecting our health in the long run."

China is currently responsible for consuming 28% of all the world's meat and half of the world's pork. Not only does this affect individual health, but meat also affects emissions. Livestock agriculture and meat production account for an estimated 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Due to its population and rapid economic growth, China is essential to any efforts to curb GHG emissions. It is reported that if everyone in China decides to follow new guidelines, which are all laid out at WildAid.org, greenhouse gas emissions from meat consumption in the country will fall by an amount equal to 1.5% of all global emissions. If these new guidelines aren't followed, China is expected to see an astounding 51% emissions rise by 2030. This would be an amount greater than the 2012 national emissions of every country except China, the United States, India and Russia. Take a look at the graph and behind-the-scenes video featuring Cameron and Schwarzenegger below.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/169913909

Eat Less Meat infographic