· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Fortune or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Meat-heavy diets, central to many holiday traditions, contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions
• Researchers and organizations are exploring strategies to encourage plant-based eating to mitigate climate impacts, including visibility of vegetarian options, “meat-free days,” and improving the taste of plant-forward meals
🔭 The context: Meat production accounts for a third of global food emissions, with beef producing 20 times more emissions per gram of protein than plant-based alternatives
• Initiatives like "Veganuary" and blending plant ingredients into meat dishes have shown promise in reducing meat consumption
• Despite challenges, meat intake in places like the UK is already decreasing
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Shifting to plant-based diets at scale could cut global dietary emissions by 17%, playing a key role in addressing the climate crisis
• Reducing reliance on high-emission foods like beef is critical for achieving sustainability goals
⏭️ What's next: Countries like Denmark and organizations such as the Culinary Institute of America are investing in culinary training and research to make plant-based meals more appealing and accessible
• Campaigns promoting plant-forward dining aim to achieve significant dietary shifts by 2030
💬 One quote: “Food systems are responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is huge,” - Stacy Blondin of the World Resources Institute
📈 One stat: The Menus of Change University Research Collaborative recorded a 23% drop in greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of food purchased between 2019 and 2023 through plant-forward initiatives
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