Altering Food Consumption Could Be Key to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new study provides the latest, most comprehensive estimate of greenhouse gas emissions generated by US consumer food purchases. The study suggests that if people change their food choices, planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions associated with the global food supply chains could fall by 17%.

Switching food and drink purchases to very similar but more environmentally friendly alternatives could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from US food purchases by 16%. This could be a key area for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as food purchases accounted for 16% of US greenhouse gas emissions in 2015.

Climate change mitigation may depend on incentivizing consumer and producer choices to reduce emissions-intensive food products. The study's findings suggest that policymakers should focus on encouraging consumers to choose more plant-based foods, reducing food waste, and improving the efficiency of food production and distribution.