To counteract the effects of global warming and the emission of greenhouse gases, it is necessary move towards a plant-based diet: less red meat and more fruits and vegetables. This is the latest warning from the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC), part of the UN Scientific Committee, which released the report “Climate Change and Land” in August 2019.
EATING LESS RED MEAT IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HEALTH
Experts suggest a vegetarian or vegan diet in order to save our planet, while having positive effects on our health, as well. The current food systems around the world are no longer sustainable, given that the intensive exploitation of arable land is responsible for 30% of total global emissions. In fact, the report mentions that 50% of total methane emissions, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases, is derived from pastures for cattle breeding and rice paddies. For this reason, it is advised to reduce the consumption of red meat.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it would be enough to change our dietary habits toward healthy and sustainable diets, based on whole grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. In addition, adopting a plant-based diet would help close the gap between industrialized and poor low-income countries. In industrialized countries, 2.5 in 10 individuals are obese (2 billion worldwide); in low-income countries, 1 in 10 individuals suffer from malnutrition (over 820 million worldwide).
GLOBAL CHANGES CAN SAVE THE PLANET
The extensive exploitation of arable land (approximately 72% of total land surface) to meet food demands to an increasing world population leads to both increasing and decreasing temperatures. In fact, in the last century the exploitation of land has quadrupled the world population from 1.9 to 7.7 billion and contributed to erosion, soil impoverishment, and deforestation. These are risks we can no longer take, since they could potentially lead to desertification. It is therefore urgent to make changes in the processes of food production and food consumption, “free” millions of hectares of land, and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 6 billion tons every year.
It is vital that changes be made to the current food system (from the entire supply chain to food production and consumption) as it generates around 25-30% of all human greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions are leading to heat waves that have caused a 1.2C rise in global temperatures compared to the levels recorded in the pre-industrial age. Experts state that exceeding 1.5C would create even more severe consequences. It is safe to say that managing the eating habits of the entire world population should be an important political goal, not only to save the planet but to have a healthier population overall.
SOURCES
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC – Climate Change and Land – An IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems
