What is the potential reduction in emissions from the transition to a protein-based diet?

Many people in the industry, as well as in policy makers and government, believe that we need to have a deal to tackle climate change. 'protein transition',A move away from animal proteins, which are responsible for a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Eating plant-based foods and proteins is one way to address this problem. How important is this shift in how we approach our problem?

What difference can dietary changes make?

According to a recent study published in Nature Climate Change, global food emissions could be significantly reduced if the world adopted the EAT Lancet Planetary Health diet. The study focused on carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions.

To determine this, the researchers looked at emissions from 140 different products in 139 areas or countries (about 95% of the world's population). The study looked at total consumer spending to determine income, consumption and asset accumulation.

It found that grains, meat and dairy were the three largest sources of emissions from food. Grains accounted for 51 % of calories while dairy and red meat accounted for only 5 %. Plant-based energy sources accounted for 48 % of global carbon dioxide emissions but 87 % of global calories.

According to the study, global adoption of the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health diet could reduce dietary gas emissions by up to 17 %.

Animal-based foods contribute more to dietary emissions, but fewer calories, than plant-based foods in most regions studied.

Why are food emissions so high?

According to the study, dietary changes will be needed in rich countries to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The largest dietary emissions are produced by wealthy individuals within countries and rich countries in the global composition. They are generally due to higher consumption of red meat or dairy products.

Most people in high-income countries consume a lot of dairy products and red meat. However, even in high-income countries, red meat consumption is below recommended levels for some poorer people.

Starchy foods are the norm in many parts of the world. Cheap foods such as tubers and grains, but which contain high levels of carbohydrates, make up a large part of the diet.

The study found that if low-income people around the world ate healthier, their food emissions would increase by 15.4% per year.

FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This suggestsA third of the world's population cannot afford a healthy diet. Nature's Study estimates that figure to be around 3.1 billion.

According to this study, however, 56.9 % are also overconsumers. They could reduce their food emissions by adopting a healthier diet.

The study found that a shift to EAT-Lancet Planetary Nutrition could reduce emissions by 32.4% and offset the 15.4% increase in emissions caused by poorer people adopting better diets. A change in diet would reduce greenhouse gases and lift 43.1% of people out of poverty, the study found.

Uzbekistan would see the largest decline (-74 %), followed by Australia (-70 %) and Qatar (-67 %). Turkey (-65 %) and Tajikistan (64 %). In countries like Mongolia, where access to alternative diets is difficult, there may be no way to change diets, the study found.

Nature Climate change
Reducing the impact of climate change on global food systems through dietary changes
Publication date: August 13, 2024
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02084-1
Authors: Y. Li, P. He, Y. Shan, T, Li, Y. Hang, S. Shao, F. Ruzzenenti & K. Hubacek