The Conversation has published a study on the Nature Food website that analyzes the dietary data of 55,000 people and links what they eat and drink to five key metrics: greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, water pollution and biodiversity loss. The finding: vegans have only 30% of the environmental impact of meat-eaters.
Given that the food system is responsible for around 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of global freshwater use and 78% of freshwater pollution, the conclusions of this study are crucial. Around three quarters of the world’s ice-free land has been affected by human use, mainly for agriculture and land-use change such as deforestation, which is a major source of biodiversity loss.
If eating habits are indeed deeply rooted, a transition to more plant-based diets would have a significant impact on reducing GHG emissions and improving health.
