December 27, 2019
Climate change is long feared to cause shortage of food supplies. But there is a vice versa relationship.
Our food choices may help fight climate change.
But how?
The answer came in the latest report of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
“Some dietary choices require more land and water, and cause more emissions of heat-trapping gases than others,” said Debra Roberts, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.
The report records that about one third of food produced is lost or wasted.
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“Reducing this loss and waste would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve food security,” the the Special Report on Climate Change and Land says.
So, should people stop eating meat?
“Balanced diets featuring plant-based foods, such as coarse grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and animal-sourced food produced sustainably in low greenhouse gas emission systems, present major opportunities for adaptation to and limiting climate change,” Debra explains.
Authors of the report say land is already under growing human pressure and climate change is adding to these pressures.
Fruit and vegetables farmers’ market in Budapest, Hungary.
Credit: © FAO/G. Agostinucci
“At the same time, keeping global warming to well below 2ºC can be achieved only by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors including land and food.”
The IPCC, is the world body for assessing the state of scientific knowledge related to climate change and its impacts.
So, let’s go for diet that may not exclude meat but be a balanced intake instead of being heavily meat-based as some of us have become used to.
What is your recipe? Let’s explore in the next piece.
Views and News is sharing its 2019 top climate change stories
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