You’ve probably heard the adage that the better something tastes, the worse it is for you. That may or may not be true, but what is true is that many foods that Australians love, regardless of their effect on you individually, are bad for the planet.
Food production contributes around 37 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which by now we all know play a significant role in climate change. It’s an alarming figure, but given the world’s population clock ticked over the 8 billion mark a few weeks ago, probably not surprising.
Those 8 billion people need to eat, but can we feed the world while pumping all those GHGs into the atmosphere? The simple answer is yes, but it may involve giving up – or at least cutting back on – some of your favourite foods.
Read: Global temps continue to rise
As to which foods are the culprits, a quick online search will point you in a number of directions. Fodor’s Travel website lists farmed prawns as one of its top seven ‘problem’ foods, while the You Matter site points to salmon and tuna without mentioning prawns.
While these lists vary, there is one general category that appears unfailingly in all, either at or near the top – meat. And topping the list in the meat department is beef, closely followed by lamb.
The general consensus is that for every kilogram of beef produced, 60 to 70 kilograms of GHG emissions are produced, with carbon dioxide and methane the chief contributors. As a recent article from a group of European scientists succinctly puts it, the elephant in the room is really a cow.
Beef comes in at No. 1 in Fodor’s top seven, followed by lamb. Next up are pork and cheese, with prawns coming in at No. 5.
Read: How to make your death environmentally friendly
You’ve probably noticed a common thread in the top five – all are animal products. Even cheese, which doesn’t involve eating the animal itself, produces an average of 23.9kgs of GHG per kilo of production, according to the United Nations.
For meat and dairy consumers who are feeling attacked, Fodor’s list does include two plant-based products – avocados and chocolate. Avocados make the list on the basis that to grow one avocado takes 320 litres of water in the dry regions of Chile. They are also exported around the world, so there’s shipping involved, contributing further GHGs to the atmosphere.
The one thing almost all of us would have been hoping was not on the list is chocolate. Unfortunately, three of its key ingredients – cocoa, palm oil and soy – have resulted in a massive loss of forests, which is catastrophic not only for the atmosphere but also for the species that inhabit them.
What can you do to help?
Giving up red meat and dairy foods altogether would be quite an extreme measure for most, but cutting back on our intake could help make a big difference to global emissions.
In addition, switching to a diet that is higher in plant-based foods will almost certainly benefit your health, as well as the environment’s.
Read: How environmentally friendly are these everyday items?
If you’re not ready to give up on a nice, juicy steak, try to get one that’s been ‘ethically’ produced. Organic beef is produced without pesticides which also contribute to global warming through nitrous oxide (also a GHG).
One big thing you can do is to make sure you consume all the food you buy. According to the Australia government’s department of climate change, energy, the environment and water, one third of the world’s food is wasted.
A few small changes to your buying and eating habits could make a world of difference and indeed make the world a different, better place.
Do you consider environmental impact when you choose your foods? Have you made changes to your diet based on concerns about global warming? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?