World Vegan Day: what is the climate impact of the 6 most popular diets?

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🗞️ Driving the news: On World Vegan Day, new findings reveal how various diets impact the climate, with veganism producing the lowest carbon footprint and the keto diet the highest
• Recent research shows vegan diets emit 0.7 kg of CO₂ per 1,000 calories, while keto diets emit almost 3 kg, underscoring a significant difference in environmental impact

🔭 The context: Around one-third of global emissions stem from the food sector, with beef production among the worst offenders, emitting about ten times more CO₂ than chicken
• Diets like vegetarian and pescatarian rank favorably after veganism, while omnivorous diets can still achieve lower footprints by prioritizing plant-based choices like the Mediterranean diet

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Shifting dietary habits, even partially, can reduce emissions on a large scale, offering accessible paths to lessen individual climate impacts
• If just a third of omnivores switched to vegetarian diets, it would be akin to cutting 340 million passenger vehicle miles annually

⏭️ What's next: With growing awareness of diet-related emissions, policies could play a role in promoting sustainable food choices, potentially influencing food labeling or incentives for lower-carbon foods
• This shift could further align individual health with climate goals

💬 One quote: “There’s a way to improve your health and footprint without giving up meat entirely” –Professor Diego Rose of Tulane University

📈 One stat: The keto diet’s carbon footprint is over four times higher than that of a vegan diet, at nearly 3 kg of CO₂ per 1,000 calories

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