Does what I eat have an effect on climate change?
Yes. The world’s food system is responsible for about one quarter of the planet-warming greenhouse gases that humans generate each year. That includes raising and harvesting all the plants, animals and animal products we eat, as well as processing, packaging and shipping food to markets all over the world.
How exactly does food contribute to global warming?
When forests are cleared to make room for farms and livestock, large stores of carbon are released into the atmosphere, which heats up the planet. Also, fossil fuels are used to operate farm machinery, make fertilizer and ship food around the globe, all of which generate emissions.
Which foods have the largest impact?
In general, beef and lamb have the biggest climate footprint per gram of protein—livestock accounts for roughly the same amount of emissions as all the cars, trucks, airplanes and ships in the world today—while plant-based foods like beans, pulses, grains and soy tend to have the smallest effect. Pork, chicken, eggs and mollusks such as clams, oysters and scallops are somewhere in the middle.
These are only averages. Beef raised in the United States produces generally fewer emissions than beef raised in Brazil or Argentina. And certain cheeses can have a larger greenhouse gas impact than a lamb chop.
Is there a simple food choice I can make that would reduce my climate footprint?
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Denne historien er fra April 2021-utgaven av Reader's Digest India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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READER'S DIGEST-BOOKS
These book summaries highlight Siddharthya Roy's exploration of conflict and violence, Michael Castleman's deep dive into the history of publishing, and Swadesh Deepak's examination of social issues and masculinity through Hindi literature.
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A lawyer, pianist, critic, and mentor to artists, Lionel Wendt is best known for his photographs of Sri Lanka, especially those of people indigenous to the island, captured amidst the lush landscape or posing in his studio.
Too Much?
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Coimbatore-born Prashanth Srivatsa is a science fiction/fantasy writer whose stories have appeared in magazines such as Asimov’s, Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. Prashanth’s debut fantasy novel, The Spice Gate chronicles the journey of Amir, a young man born with special abilities who unravels the power that keeps the world in balance. magazines such as Asimov's, Magazine of Fantasy Science Fiction and Three-Lobed Burning Eye, among others. Prashanth’s debut fantasy novel, The Spice Gate chronicles the journey of Amir, a young man born with special abilities who unravels the power that keeps the world in balance.
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I was recently given bacon-flavoured dental floss for my birthday.