The influence of nutrition on climate change

The influence of nutrition on climate change

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. In addition to industry and transport, our diet is particularly concerning for the climate. Diet is a significant but often overlooked driver of climate change, as it is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Switching to a more sustainable diet could help solve this problem.

The relationship between nutrition and climate change

Nutrition and greenhouse gas emissions

About a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the production and consumption of food. The main sources of these emissions are deforestation and the conversion of grassland to arable land, the release of methane by digesting livestock and the use of artificial fertilizers in agriculture.

According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), animal products, particularly beef and dairy products, contribute more to the greenhouse effect per calorie than plant-based foods. This is because producing meat and dairy products requires more resources and emits more emissions than producing plant-based foods.

Nutritional land use change and deforestation

Agricultural activities occupy about 50% of the world's ice-free land area. The production of animal foods requires significantly more land than that of plant-based foods. Beef is particularly inefficient because it requires more than 20 times as much land per calorie as potatoes or wheat.

Another aspect that illustrates the relationship between nutrition and climate change is deforestation. In many parts of the world, rainforests are cut down to make room for pasture or soybean cultivation, the proceeds of which are used as feed for animal fattening. This deforestation not only causes direct damage to the ecosystem, but also results in significant carbon losses as trees store carbon as they grow and release it when destroyed.

Sustainable nutrition as a solution

The benefits of a plant-based diet

A sustainable diet could make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A vegetarian or vegan diet produces significantly fewer CO2 emissions than a meat-based diet.

That doesn't mean we all have to become vegan immediately. Of course, it is important to pay attention to your personal nutritional needs. However, smaller adjustments, such as switching from beef to chicken or replacing meat with plant-based protein sources, can have a significant impact.

Regional and seasonal consumption

Another aspect of a sustainable diet is the consumption of regional and seasonal foods. Transporting food over long distances generates significant CO2 emissions. Sea buckthorn berries from your home garden therefore have a much lower carbon footprint than kiwis from New Zealand.

The same applies to seasonal foods. Tomatoes grown in the greenhouse in winter have a higher carbon footprint than those grown outdoors in summer. Respecting the season and eating foods when they are naturally available improves the environmental footprint of our diet.

Conclusion

The connection between nutrition and climate change is a critical but often overlooked factor. Diet is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions and is a major contributor to deforestation and land use change.

A sustainable diet based on a high proportion of plant-based foods and favoring regional and seasonal foods can help reduce the impact on climate change. A first step can be to eat less meat, especially beef, and enrich your diet with more ecologically sustainable foods.

By making conscious choices about what we eat, we can support not only our individual health, but also the health of the planet. Every meal counts!