Macro partitioning
Replacing animal-source foods with plant-based foods in high-income countries reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 84% and premature mortality by up to 12%, but may increase freshwater use by up to 16%.
In high-income countries, reducing your intake of animal-source foods and replacing them with plant-based options (especially legumes, fruits, and vegetables) can significantly lower your carbon footprint and improve your health. Be aware that this might increase your water usage, so choosing water-efficient plant foods can help mitigate this. This strategy is most effective where current meat consumption is high.
Following environmental objectives by replacing animal-source foods with plant-based ones was particularly effective in high-income countries for improving nutrient levels, lowering premature mortality (reduction of up to 12% [95% CI 10–13] with complete replacement), and reducing some environmental impacts, in particular greenhouse gas emissions (reductions of up to 84%). However, it also increased freshwater use (increases of up to 16%)
Why this rating
Global modelling analysis with detailed environmental footprints.
Source
Health and nutritional aspects of sustainable diet strategies and their association with environmental impacts: a global modelling analysis with country-level detail
Marco Springmann et al. · The Lancet Planetary Health · 2018
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