On Monday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to Philip Weech, director of the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission, urging him to combat global warming by encouraging the nation's residents to adopt a vegetarian diet.

PETA pointed out that meat production is recognised as the leading cause of the greenhouse-gas emissions that are blamed for global warming.

The letter was sent after the Commission acknowledged that further global warming would have dire consequences for the Bahamas – including violent storms and storm surges, rising sea levels, accelerated erosion and land degradation.

PETA pointed out that although encouraging people to be more energy-efficient in their daily lives is certainly helpful in the battle against greenhouse-gas emissions, the best way for people to lessen their environmental "footprint" is to go vegetarian.

A recent United Nations scientific report determined that raising animals for food generates about 40 per cent more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, SUVs, trucks and airplanes in the world combined.

PETA also offered Weech helpful tips for getting the ball rolling, such as serving exclusively vegetarian fare at all state functions and making vegetarian options available in all public schools.

"We're encouraging Bahamians to combat global warming by going vegetarian now, before the islands go the way of the lost island of Atlantis", says PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich. "Because meat production is the main greenhouse-gas culprit, there's no way to go green without skipping meat and dairy."