Food and Climate Change

Food production accounts for roughly 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Of that, animal products (meat and dairy) contribute about 60% of food-related emissions despite providing only 18% of global calories.

The Beef Problem

Beef has by far the highest emissions per gram of protein — roughly 20x higher than legumes. Cattle require large amounts of land, produce methane from digestion, and often replace forests that would otherwise absorb CO₂.

Biggest Dietary Changes for the Planet

  • Swapping beef for chicken cuts that meal's footprint by ~75%
  • Going fully vegan reduces food footprint by ~50–70%
  • Eating local has a smaller impact than you might think — transport is ~6% of food emissions
  • Reducing food waste is also high-impact — about 1/3 of all food is wasted