Eating right, for the environment: WWF’s diet chart to help curb climate change, biodiversity loss

Eating right, for the environment: WWF’s diet chart to help curb climate change, biodiversity loss

Subject: Environment

Context-

• Cutting down on meat consumption can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions is well known.
• But global non-profit World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says much more is needed to slow climate change and biodiversity loss.
• Ahead of World Food Day (October 16), WWF outlined a sustainable diet plan that can help address a host of environmental challenges while also providing health benefits.

It encouraged the following consumption patterns:

• Plant-heavy diet:
  • Growing plants requires less water and land and emits lower volumes of greenhouse gases than meat, dairy and egg production.
  • Incorporating more fruits, vegetables and wholegrains in our diet can reduce the impact our food system has on the environment.
• Diversify the platter:
  • Seventy-five percent of the global food supply comes from only 12 plant and five animal species.
  • The global dependence on a small range of food threatens the diversity of species in agriculture, weakens our food systems and is also not the most nutritious.
• Cut food waste:
  • Planning meals, shopping smart and more efficient storage of food items can help reduce food waste.
  • Nearly 570 million tonnes of the global food waste occurs at the household level.
• Proteins beyond meat:
  • Around 60 per cent of the greenhouse gas emission from agriculture is due to animal farming.
  • Consuming more mushrooms, peas, beans and nuts to meet our protein requirements can help reduce this burden.
• Pay attention to logos:
  • Being aware of and choosing food packages based on eco-labels can go a long way.
  • The organisation listed out some logos one can look for while grocery shopping.
  • These include: Organic, Rainforest Alliance (for sustainable agriculture), Fairtrade (protecting farmers and workers in developing countries), Freedom Food (animal welfare), MSC and ASC (Marine stewardship council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council, for seafood) and RSPO (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil).
• Fat, sugar, salt best avoided:
  • Cultivation of sugarcane and sugar beet causes soil erosion and is often associated with intensive use of water and pesticides.
  • Simple lifestyle choices such as choosing water over sugary drinks and saving cakes, sweets, chocolates, cured meat, fries and crisps for special occasions can make a significant difference.
  • New sugar plantations are replacing natural habitats, leading to biodiversity decline.