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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on South China Morning Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new report by the EAT-Lancet Commission finds that adopting a "planetary health diet"—rich in plant-based foods and low in animal products — could prevent up to 15 million deaths annually and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 15%
• The diet emphasizes grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, while limiting red meat to once a week and dairy and animal proteins to one serving per day
🔭 The context: The EAT-Lancet Commission, a collaboration of 37 leading scientists from 16 countries, first introduced the planetary health diet in 2019 as a framework to align global nutrition with environmental sustainability
• The latest findings reflect updated data on the links between diet, chronic disease, food systems, climate impact, and biodiversity loss
• Despite awareness campaigns, global diets remain largely unsustainable and unhealthy, especially in high-income and rapidly developing nations
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Food systems account for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and are a major driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and freshwater use
• A global dietary shift could significantly reduce pressure on ecosystems, help meet the Paris climate targets, and improve food security
• However, transitioning requires confronting vested agricultural interests, cultural dietary norms, and food access inequalities
⏭️ What's next: The report calls on governments, institutions, and industry leaders to integrate planetary health principles into national dietary guidelines, agricultural subsidies, and public procurement policies
• Action is especially urgent ahead of COP30 in 2026, where food systems are expected to feature prominently
• Key implementation challenges will include ensuring affordability, regional adaptability, and farmer support during the transition
💬 One quote: “Transforming the global food system is essential to human and planetary health—and it's possible, but it will take unprecedented political will,” said Dr. Walter Willett, co-chair of the EAT-Lancet Commission
📈 One stat: Food production contributes approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock alone accounting for nearly 60% of those emissions
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