Climate change is one of the biggest challenges humanity will have to face this century. The effects of warmer global temperatures and more extreme storms will impact many aspects of our way of life. It can feel overwhelming to look at where we are now and think about all of the changes that will have to be made to reduce our emissions. However, if broken down, there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint and work towards a more sustainable future.
For those of you who have never heard of a “carbon footprint”, or do not remember what it means, a carbon footprint is the total sum of all greenhouse gas emissions caused either directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, product, or event. There are many factors that affect your carbon footprint, but this article is only going to address the emissions related to the food you eat. Whether or not it is something you think about a lot, the food you eat plays a role in the warming of the planet. In a year, the average household in the United States produces 8.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide solely through food consumption. Eighty-three percent of those emissions are released during food production. The other 11% are from transportation.
Some types of food release more emissions than others. Animal products tend to be a larger contributor than vegetables and grains because energy loss occurs with each step up in the food chain. In beef cattle, it takes approximately 5 to 7 kg of grain to create 1 kg of beef. Herbivores whose digestion involves fermentation (the ruminants such as cows, sheep, and goats) produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as a by-product of fermentation.
If you are reading all of this and feeling discouraged, there are small changes you can make that will help reduce your carbon footprint. One important change could be to buy more of your food locally. Many areas have farmers markets where products can be purchased directly from the farmers. Not only does it reduce the distance your food has to travel to get to your plate (affecting that 11% from transportation), it will also help you and your family to eat more healthy whole foods and support the local community. According to the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, eating all local for a year could reduce your greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of driving 1,000 miles. Of course, the seasons will affect what you can find at the farmers market, but many farms and websites will have suggestions of how to best prepare new foods.
Another way to reduce your food carbon footprint is by reducing the amount of meat in your diet. There are ways to accomplish this without going fully vegetarian. For example, the Center for Sustainable Systems says that eating vegetarian for only one day a week can save the equivalent of driving 1,160 miles in greenhouse gas emissions. Switching the type of meat you eat can also lower your carbon footprint. Red meat, but beef in particular, tends to produce a lot of emissions. Swapping out beef for chicken for one year could reduce your emissions by 882 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted
These are changes you can make gradually. Start by visiting the farmers market when it is running and see what is available. Initially, try making purchases that substitute what you would normally get at the supermarket and try getting more adventurous over time. Some people may be daunted by the farmers’ market prices, however there can often be good deals, such as buying three of something for a dollar, vegetable seconds, or gifts with a certain purchase. As for meat, try a meatless meal one day per week and see if you can work up to a meatless day. Or try substituting a red meat for something else, like chicken, for a couple meals throughout the week. The important thing to remember is to make small changes over time and be open to new possibilities.
Although there are many ways to lower your carbon footprint, changing the way you eat offers many benefits beyond reducing emissions. It can make you healthier, connect you to your community, and support small farms and businesses. I am very passionate about the movement towards sustainable eating because I see it as a way to spread nourishment and happiness beyond the individual. I believe that, through food, we can begin to heal the world and I encourage you to be a part of it.
Source:
Carbon Footprint. Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan. http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS09-05.pdf
Emily Anderson