admin A recent study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that global dietary emissions could be reduced by 17% if more people adopt plant-based diets. The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, suggests that over half of the global population, currently over-consuming, could contribute significantly to this reduction by shifting to the planetary health diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. The study highlights that this dietary change would offset the 15.4% increase in emissions expected from under-consuming populations (43.1% of the global population) as they move towards healthier diets.
The researchers emphasise the disparity in dietary emissions between affluent and poorer countries. Wealthier nations, with higher red meat and dairy consumption, generate more emissions but have lower levels of dietary inequality. Conversely, poorer countries exhibit lower emissions but face greater challenges in achieving dietary equity.
Challenges and Policy Recommendations
Dr. Yuli Shan from the University of Birmingham, a corresponding author of the study, notes the significant emission reduction potential of plant-based products compared to animal-based ones. He argues that reducing the over-consumption of high-emission foods, such as beef in countries like Australia and the United States, particularly among wealthier consumers, could lead to substantial health and climate benefits.
The study also addresses the barriers to adopting healthier diets in low-income countries, where over 1.5 billion people cannot afford the planetary health diet. In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, stagnating agricultural productivity exacerbates the challenge. The researchers suggest that improving agricultural efficiency through better crop and soil management and introducing high-yield crop varieties could help these regions.
The study concludes by highlighting the need for policy interventions, such as carbon pricing, eco-labeling, and improving access to less emission-intensive foods like vegetables and legumes. However, in countries where traditional diets are heavily reliant on red meat and dairy, like Mongolia, the focus should be on improving nutritional education rather than forcing dietary shifts. The researchers underscore the importance of making healthier diets more affordable and accessible, especially for low-income populations, to achieve meaningful global emission reductions through dietary changes.
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