We all know that climate change poses a serious threat to the planet.

However, Monday's ICCP report on climate change shocked the world by highlighting the severity of the problem. It suggested that we're just 12 years away from a global environmental catastrophe.

Some 91 scientists from 40 countries collated the report, hoping it would serve as a "wake-up call" and made us all responsible for reducing the earth's carbon footprint.

"It's going to be really hard to curb climate change within the 12-year target", Edinburgh University professor Andy Kerr told STV News.

"But Scotland should set the precedent for the rest of the world and show how making small changes to our behaviour can have a significant impact on the health of the planet."

Scotland has a much lower carbon footprint than any other UK nation, and this is largely down to a number of influential campaigners who have successfully lobbied the government for change.

We've seen buildings built with great insulation, fossil fuel emissions reduced to as little as 32% and most recently, a call for public bodies to serve up vegan options in their canteens.

The Vegan Society and Go Vegan Scotland want ministers to introduce legislation to "guarantee plant-based options on every public sector menu".

The campaign was launched after the charity's research found instances of "vegans not eating for days in hospital" and children missing out on free school lunches because of a lack of vegan options.

Their petition adds that as well as protecting the rights of vegans, having more vegan options available would benefit the environment and wildlife too.

Earlier this year, a report published in Science Magazine claimed that eating a vegan diet could be the "single biggest way" to reduce your environmental impact on the planet.

Researchers found that excluding meat and dairy products from your diet could reduce someone's carbon footprint from food by a massive 73%.

But for those who can't face it just yet, simply going vegetarian could still make a massive difference.

Livestock farming is responsible for nearly 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human-related activities, claims the Vegetarian Society, so even a day or two without meat could make your diet more eco-friendly.

The Vegan Society - the oldest vegan charity in the world, claims that if the world went vegan, it could save eight million human lives by 2050.

"Worldwide veganism would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds and lead to healthcare-related savings and avoided climate damages of trillions," their spokesperson said.

And, according to the charity's researchers, if everyone were to go vegan, the combined number of deaths per year from strokes, coronary heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes would decrease by 19%.

The benefits of going vegan have been heavily documented in recent years.

From our mood to our immune system, the vegan lifestyle claims to provide us with a vast array of health perks. So many so, that two STV News journalists put it to the test. They reported improved sleep, higher energy levels and even significant weight-loss.

Read their findings here.

Scotland has a growing vegan community and a large number of local companies and vendors who specialise in plant-based food.

The 78, Mono and Henderson's are just a few of the many restaurants serving up vegan-twists on our favourite Scottish classics.

However, there are a few important things to think about before you embark on this type of diet. Cutting out animal products puts you at risk of getting insufficient vitamin D, which is needed for bone health so you may also want to consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

"Vegan diets are not recommended for children under two years old, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding would need to be careful to ensure they get the right vitamins and nutrients so that their baby develops healthily" an NHS spokeswoman said.

But if you are interested in embarking on this planet-friendly diet, next weekend Edinburgh is playing host to one of the nation's biggest vegan festivals - and attending could be the perfect place to start.