COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE WITH YOUR FOODMaking small changes to the foods you eat can make a huge difference. Take our quiz to learn what YOU can do to reduce your carbon foodprint. |
WE ARE FAR FROM WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO KEEP GLOBAL WARMING AT A SUSTAINABLE LEVEL
The average carbon footprint of a person in the United States is over 3x greater than the world average.
To keep the impacts of climate change at a sustainable level, the UN has set a target of limiting global warming to 2℃ above pre-industrial temperatures. To achieve that goal, the carbon footprint of everyone on Earth must drop by a staggering 50% by 2050, on average. |
Carbon Footprint Per Person in 2017
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WHAT IF WE DON'T REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?
To prevent the most devastating implications of climate change, our goal as a global community is to limit the rise of global temperatures to under 2℃ this century. Try out different scenarios below to see how changes in each person's carbon footprint would impact global temperatures by the end of century.
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Data source: Climate Action Tracker |
If we continue at our current rate, we will far exceed our target of limiting global warming to below 2℃. To ensure we successfully meet our goal, each of us must start taking action to reduce our carbon footprint now.
REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOODPRINTEveryone has a role to play in combating greenhouse emissions. One of the biggest ways you can combat climate change is not just changing what you drive or how much energy you use, but also changing what you eat.
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Image source: Eat Low Carbon |
WHY FOOD?
1/4 of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the production and processing of food. Food is also one of the top three sources of emissions produced by the typical American household. Your decisions as a consumer of food therefore have a huge impact.
Data source: Our World In Data |
Data source: The Nature Conservancy |
COMPARING DIFFERENT FOODS
Animal products, such as meat, seafood, and dairy, have a much greater carbon footprint than other foods. To reduce your carbon foodprint, start by eating less meat, especially red meat like beef or lamb.
Data source: CleanMetrics
NUTRITION AND CARBON FOODPRINT
What is your favorite source of protein? How about source of carbs? Your choice does matter in terms of carbon foodprint.
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<Protein-heavy foods>
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<Carbs-heavy foods>
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FOOD TRANSPORTATION AND CARBON FOODPRINT
Only about 5% of food emissions come from transportation (and there are even some cases where food produced not locally is better for your carbon foodprint, depending on how it was produced!). So, whether you eat locally or not generally doesn’t affect your carbon foodprint much.
