FOOD AND CLIMATE CHANGE

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The global food system is responsible for over a third of all greenhouse gas emissions.¹ 

Different food sources vary vastly in their environmental impact; the choices we make around what we eat are powerful.² 

You don't have to be completely vegan to eat sustainably. Eating more plant-based protein will make the biggest impact in reducing your carbon footprint. Then, choosing better and less meat, seafood and dairy will lessen the environmental impact of the animal protein you do eat. Eating regenerative, organically grown, seasonal and locally grown fruit and vegetables will also contribute to a planet friendly diet. 

Food waste alone equates to 8 to 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions³. The easiest step we can all take is to stop wasting edible food and to either home compost or use the curb-side food recycling for our unavoidable food waste. 

We are learning about the connection between our food and climate change. We'd love more people to get involved so please email us if you're interested. 

Actions: 

● Increasing awareness about following a climate friendly diet. 

● Researching and sharing information about local producers and retailers of sustainable, seasonal, high welfare and local food. 

● Supporting prioritising plant-based food, with better, but less meat, seafood and dairy. 

● Promoting the sharing of surplus food in the village. 

● Encouraging a reduction of edible food waste, and recycling the unavoidable elements. 

● Highlighting the importance of reusable packaging and not using single use items/plastic. 

● Liaising and learning from other, similar groups. 

Longer term goals could include: 

● Connecting with other groups in the village to see if we can work together to enable change. 

● Finding opportunities for community food growing.

 ● Discovering whether there is a desire in the village for a community fridge or community composting. 

● Investigating the possibility of holding a small market and inviting local producers. 

Further information: 

Environmental Impacts of Food Production (ourworldindata.org) 

The Planetary Health Diet - EAT (eatforum.org)

Surplus and Waste in the UK (wrap.org.uk) 

Ending hunger | World Food Programme (wfp.org) 

Goal 2 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org) 

Eating patterns for health and environmental sustainability (bda.uk.com) 

¹ https://ourworldindata.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions-food 

² https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food 

³ UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021