Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Diet modification, beneficial for climate, environment and health

The food system is responsible for one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and 80 percent of water use, according to climate change research center BC3.

With this in mind, the researchers have studied how modifying the diet based on vegetable proteins and reducing meat consumption would have affected the environment, public health and social economy. They conclude that for change to be effective, planning must be regional, respecting cultural and economic contexts.

“Dietary change also improves nutritional status and caloric intake, as well as environmental and climate variables.”

The study, published in Nature Food, confirms that in some regions, a healthy diet can save up to 30% on mitigation costs to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Convention. The article defines a healthy diet as one that promotes health, prevents diseases and guarantees nutrients.

1.298 Scenarios

The study analyzed 1,298 scenarios, using advanced statistical models, classified according to the typology and level of the protein transition, as well as the global and manual impact. The main conclusions point out that dietary change also improves nutritional status and caloric intake, as well as environmental and climate variables.

An example of this is the impact on forest reforestation of scenarios that combine the reduction of plant proteins with the reduction of the meat consumption of ruminant animals (cows, goats, sheep), especially in the African Ekitalde.

“Total water extraction would decline globally by 2050 in all cases.”

On the other hand, the growth of unmanaged lands in almost all scenarios (natural forests, protected grasslands, bushes) is associated with the global improvement of biodiversity. Likewise, total water extraction would decline globally by 2050 in all cases, although in the Middle East, water scarcity could have increased in the scenario of vegetable protein consumption due to the export of legumes and nuts that require intensive irrigation.

All scenarios also contribute to the mitigation of the climate emergency. Greenhouse gas emissions, as well as pollutants that worsen air quality, would be reduced, which would prevent premature deaths. In this sense, Argentina, Europe and North America would be the regions that would benefit the most.