February 4, 2022
Feature Story
by Tara Malhotra
Have you ever wondered what your diet’s carbon footprint is or if food truly plays a big role in contributing to global warming? How do common foods impact the environment?
All of this can now be calculated. In 2019, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) News created a climate change food calculator based on global averages of greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are primarily human-made and trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, which leads to global warming. A carbon footprint describes the amount of greenhouse gases created by an individual.
Tracking your footprint is important because it unveils how your habits and lifestyle affect the environment. Seeing it on paper shows the magnitude of the problem and inspires change among people. For many, the first step towards improving your carbon footprint comes from recognizing how food choices contribute to greenhouse gases.
Pie chart on the effects of food in the environment.
A 2018 University of Oxford study found that food production makes up a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. This was determined by data from 40,000 farms and 1,600 processors. The study used serving sizes based on recommendations from the British Dietetic Association and British health insurances. These suggestions are often smaller than what people actually consume, so the greenhouse gas emissions are likely higher than the calculator predicts. Over half of those food emissions are generated by animal products alone. Furthermore, 50 percent of animal emissions are directly connected to beef and lamb. To lessen these numbers, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests eating seasonal food from nearby areas and not wasting it. Altering your diet to make it more climate-friendly not only slows global warming but also conserves water, prevents deforestation, and minimizes pollution.
Graph on the amount of greenhouse gases per protein.
The study also found that meat, along with other animal products, are responsible for over half of food-related greenhouse gas emissions, although they only make up a fifth of the calories we consume. Out of all the products researched, beef and lamb have the greatest impact on global warming, with beef having the greatest carbon footprint of all foods. Eating three to five servings of beef each week adds 3,552 pounds of greenhouse gases annually. Consuming that same amount of lamb each year creates 1,993 pounds of emissions. Alternatively, having three to five servings of tofu every week only produces 73 pounds of gases annually. Vegetarian protein sources produce less greenhouse gases than any meat options. The IPCC recommends purchasing less milk, meat, cheese, and butter to reduce a diet’s carbon footprint. Removing both dairy and meat products from your meals can decrease a person’s food footprint by two-thirds.
Graph on the amount of greenhouse gases per milk.
While milk alternatives produce similar amounts of greenhouse gases, dairy milk creates the most. This is because the cows that supply it occupy the most land and need lots of water. According to the BBC’s calculator, consuming three to five servings of dairy milk weekly contributes 289 pounds of greenhouse gases each year. That number translates to driving a gas car 334 miles or taking 402 eight-minute showers. One IPCC suggestion is to buy alternative milks for drinking or use in recipes. This is an easy way to cut down harmful emissions. Greenhouse gases, however, are not the only problem created by food production. Water usage and pesticide involvement take a toll on the environment in another way. The University of California San Francisco found that almond milk does not produce many emissions, but its water and pesticide use has permanent effects on ecosystems due to increased droughts.
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