Why We Should All Consider "The Climatarian" Way of Eating

As much of our agricultural regions face record-breaking heatwaves and devastating wildfire seasons, climate change anxiety (and solutions!) are top of mind for many of us. More than 90% of Americans are willing to eat more fruits and vegetables for health reasons, but many people remain unaware or misinformed about how their food choices impact the climate.

Without significant changes in our diet, it will be very hard to meet the global goals needed to stop the warming of more than 1.5 degrees F by 2030. Food production is responsible for one-quarter of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the average American diet generating close to as many emissions as energy-related emissions. Aside from widely-discussed ideas, such as cutting back on meat and dairy consumption, other methods need to be addressed, such as the transportation of our foods and the elimination of food waste.

And now there's a new word to encompass this earth-friendly, conscious style of eating—"climatarianism." It is a much-needed term that helps define "eating with purpose for the planet" to inspire us to think deeply about our food choices as a means to fight global warming.

What is Climatarianism?

For a climatarian, the type of food you eat isn't the focal point (meat, fish, eggs, etc.)—it's the carbon footprint you create in order to fill your plate that you're most conscious of. The aim is to select foods that have generated the least environmental impact during production and transportation.

While livestock production is the highest in emissions, fish, seafood, fruits, and vegetables are the lowest.

By minimizing your intake of the most carbon-intensive foods, such as beef, lamb, and dairy, you'll help drive down agricultural emissions and free up land for other uses to increase carbon sequestration, such as tree planting.

It's also why being committed to "blue foods" [learn more about that by clicking here] is so significantly important. Sustainably-raised fish and seafood currently produce less than .5 percent of the total greenhouse gas (ghg) footprint globally. But we can still do better!

Eat a Plant-Forward Diet

As we mentioned, reducing your meat and dairy consumption can have a significant effect. Meat and other animal products account for more than half of GHG emissions in our diets, but provide only one-fifth of the calories. Beef and lamb are particularly harmful, accounting for half of all farmed animal emissions.

Why do livestock produce so many emissions? It takes more land and energy to produce a pound of animal protein compared to plant protein. Nitrogen-based fertilizers used to grow livestock feed produce nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. Stomach bacteria of cows and sheep, released through their burps, produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon. But you don’t have to be a vegan to make an impact.

By simply reducing your intake of red meats to even once per week, you can significantly change your overall diet footprint. For example, if Americans cut a quarter pound of beef from their weekly diets⁠—just one hamburger⁠—the climate impact would be equivalent to removing 10 million cars off the road a year.

If you opt to eat meat, what's most critical is how and where you source your food from (and how your favorite restaurants source their food!). When choosing red meat, think local. Pick a local pasture-raised beef, for example, rather than an industrial-raised one.

Buy Fresh, Local Produce

Food on average in the U.S. travels over 1500 miles. The supply chain alone accounts for nearly 15% of carbon emissions. Eating locally-sourced fruits and vegetables means reducing much of the transportation emissions, as well as the processing and packaging.

Look for Sustainably Sourced Seafood

Seafood can be a good, nutritious protein alternative to meat, depending on the species and how it was raised or caught. Mollusks, like oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops, are especially climate-friendly choices. Oyster and mussel farms also grow kelp, which sequesters “blue carbon” in the oceans. If you love a hearty fish, go for a sustainably-farmed salmon, which has a significantly lower footprint than chicken or pork!

Reduce Food Waste

The biggest impact you can possibly make is to simply reduce food waste. 40% of food is wasted in the U.S. along the food chain. This leads to increased carbon emissions from decaying food (up to 10% of total emissions!), without providing an ounce of nutrition for those who need it most.

So think about how you can make a salad out of those carrot tops or freeze the leftovers you have tonight for a dinner in the weeks to come. Reducing waste by shopping wisely, eating leftovers, freezing foods, and composting is one of the best ways to reduce so you can personally reduce your carbon footprint.

Did you know that we have a Kvaroy Kids program that helps your little ones grow up to be stewards of the planet? Check out our fun & free activities that promote learning and creativity outdoors, at home, and in the kitchen!