While in this site we focus a lot on making changes to improve health. How many of us think about how our diet affects our planet? Dietary changes can not only improve our health but can also help minimize our carbon footprint which will help our planet.
Climate and Food
The American diet is primarily meat-based, only 4% of Americans report that they are vegan or vegetarian. There is a big shift in the American diet driven by many factors including health and protecting our planet by decreasing our carbon footprint. While I am not advocating that you become vegan or vegetarian, I do advocate for the reduction of animal protein, especially red meat. To find out how the American diet affects our health, Click here.
The report, “Climate Change and the American Diet,” found that more than half (51%) of Americans surveyed said they would eat more plant-based foods if they had more information about the environmental impacts of their food choices.
Many were willing to eat more fruits and vegetables but felt that it would be very expensive to do so. Also, many Americans report that they do not like the taste of plant-based foods. Many also report not feeling full or satisfied when they only eat plant-based foods.
Health is the top motivation for purchasing or eating plant-based foods, and a majority of Americans say environmental impacts are personally important when it comes to the choice of energy. Most people do not know about the connection of how the food industry and dietary choices affect global warming.
Although most Americans think that if everyone ate a more plant-based diet it would reduce global warming at least “a little,” more than four in ten Americans say it would not reduce global warming at all (23%) or do not know (19%)
Access to healthy food
Many lower-income Americans report that they have no access to healthy food, many have no grocery stores or farmer markets within 5-10 miles from where they live. They have more access to fast-food restaurants that offer meals at very affordable prices.
Lack of Information
Many Americans report seldom hearing about the connection between food and global warming, compared to hearing about the connection between diet and health.
How Food Production Affects Green House Emissions
Food production generates up to 30% of total global emissions and is also a significant contributor to biodiversity loss, deforestation, freshwater use, and land-use change. The production of livestock generates the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the production of fruit and vegetables generates the lowest levels.
Greenhouse gas emissions are produced in the growing, processing, packaging, transportation, sale and consumption of food. Three main greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide — are emitted from processes in the food system, such as nitrous oxide release from the soil. The one that we are concern with here is from farm to table. Food consumption is the second largest contributor to greenhouse gasses. The main component is the refrigeration of the food to keep it safe for consumption.
What Can You Do?
Food production is responsible for almost one-quarter of all the greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock & fisheries account for 31% of food emissions. Crop production accounts for 27% of food emissions. Land use accounts for 24% of food emissions. Supply chains account for 18% of food emissions.
Buy Local- buying from local sources cut down on emissions from transporting and refrigerating the food. Local food is not necessarily lower in greenhouse gas emissions because food miles are only a small portion of overall emissions from food.
Who and how is your food grown- emissions depend in part on other practices such as whether pesticides and fertilizers were applied efficiently and sustainably? Is the farmer composting? Is he trying to conserve fuel use?
Here are somethings you can try to reduce your carbon print:
- Plan meals and shopping trips. If you buy what you need for the week, you will be less likely to eat out or make an unnecessary trip.
- Purchase only what you know you will eat. Food waste disposal is another place greenhouse gas is produced.
- To save time and fuel, plan your trips to farmers’ markets and farm stands so they fit in with other shopping trips.
- See if there is a farmers’ market or food co-op on your bus route.
- Purchase food that has been minimally packaged — packaging consumes additional energy. For example, if you are at the grocery store and need to choose between a potato that has been individually wrapped and an unwrapped potato, choose the unwrapped one.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle food packaging.
- Limit your consumption of out-of-season produce.
- Learn to cook and prepare dry beans and lentils. These foods are relatively inexpensive and high in nutrients.
- Eat more raw foods or foods that haven’t been processed to reduce energy use. Uncooked and unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables can be less expensive per serving than processed foods.
- Cook for multiple people or make several servings of food at once. Leftovers are convenient and save energy!
- If you have open yard space, consider composting your food scraps and using the compost to start or improve a garden.
- Backyard gardeners and residents with lawns should be aware of the environmental impact of fertilizer and apply it properly.
- Consider splitting a community-supported agriculture share with a friend or family member.
- Some local farms and greenhouses offer work-share programs where individuals exchange a few hours of labor a week. For those living near a farm, this a great option to get your hands dirty each week while receiving fresh food at no monetary cost.
- Major lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables and whole grains and eating the minimum number of calories that your lifestyle requires, may have a greater overall impact on greenhouse gas emissions than other consumer decisions. Reduce the amount of meat you consume; cows are one of the main sources of methane gas. Getting meat to your table has one of the highest productions of greenhouse gas emissions.
The take away here is to consume more plant-based foods they are good for your health and also for our planet.
