How Our Food and Diet Choices Impact Climate Change
Moving Towards Sustainable Eating
Our food choices have a direct impact on climate change, from the emissions generated in producing, transporting, and storing food, to waste and consumption patterns.
This page explores how shifting our diets and reducing waste can lead to a healthier, more sustainable community and planet.
How Does Our Food Consumption Affect Climate Change?
Our community’s dietary habits contribute notably to carbon emissions, with meat and fish being a significant factor. Here’s a breakdown of the impact:
Shifting towards plant-based foods and minimising food waste are essential steps to reducing these emissions.
Change Targets: Building a Climate-Conscious Food System
To lower emissions from food production and consumption, we can aim for the following targets:
Achieving these targets can dramatically reduce our food-related carbon footprint, contributing to a resilient and environmentally friendly food system.
Self-Reflection: How Does Our Community Measure Up?
Here are some questions to reflect on our community’s dietary habits and the potential for greener choices:
Could community campaigns encourage plant-based diets while respecting local cultures and traditions?
Food-related change is deeply personal, and any efforts should be mindful of local livelihoods and cultural ties to certain foods.
Can we take action to reduce food waste?
Food waste accounts for 22% of food purchased in the UK. Initiatives like a ‘community fridge’ could reduce waste by redistributing surplus food within the community.
Can we better understand our food’s environmental impact?
Community Cook Ups
Tools like the BBC’s Climate Change Food Calculator help us explore the environmental footprint of our food choices.
Could we consider hosting community cook ups where we share out food to reduce wastage?
If you’d like more information about the above ideas, get in touch today.
Taking Action: Creating a Low-Impact Diet
Adopting plant-based diets, reducing food waste, and embracing sustainable land management practices are critical to cutting down emissions linked to our food. As we rethink our diets and support local farming in eco-friendly ways, we can protect biodiversity and reduce our carbon footprint, creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
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Together, we can contribute to the UK’s Net Zero targets by making conscious, climate-friendly food choices.