Diet

Agriculture is the largest cause of global environmental change - through deforestation, methane production, water usage and emissions. Food production occupies roughly 40% of global land, uses 70% of freshwater and is the largest factor threatening species with extinction.

Our current food systems (the production, processing, transport, marketing and consumption of food) produce more than ⅓ of global greenhouse gas emissions- more than all of the cars on the planet.

So how can we change our diets?

Average Diet

The diagram above shows the recommended diet for a healthy, omnivorous adult from the Swiss government as of 2011. This diet is pretty standard across the western world. Food makes up 15% of an average Swiss person’s carbon footprint.

1.74 tonnes of equivalent Co2 per year - source

Vegetarian

A vegetarian diet means eating no meat or fish. This means that unlike a vegan diet, animal products such as dairy and eggs are still allowed. However, vegetarians are still prone to certain nutrient deficiencies due to no red meat. Iron and vitamin B12 usually need to be supplemented. Find out more.

1.70 tonnes of equivalent Co2 per year - source

Vegan

A vegan diet means no animal products- no meat, dairy, gelatin, or eggs. All protein and nutrients in a vegan diet come from fruit, vegetables and nuts. Veganism must be carefully organised to avoid nutrient deficiencies, such as calcium, iron, vitamin B12, iodine and selenium. You can find out more on the NHS website.

1.05 tonnes of equivalent Co2 per year - source

Planetary Health Diet

The planetary health diet was developed by the EAT-Lancet commission with 37 leading scientists from 16 countries, to incorporate the climate into our healthy plate. It is a flexible diet, open to vegan and vegetarian options. The diet is similar to mediterranean diets in that it encourages eating more fruits and legumes. Find out more.

0.50 tonnes of equivalent Co2 per year - source