The climate change impact of the food we eat is much higher than
previously thought according to a major new report by WWF and the Food
Climate Research Network (FCRN) (click
here for the full report) . The
two organisations believe no one solution alone can reduce emissions but
that greater effort and new approaches will be needed by the industry,
government and consumers if the food sector is to properly contribute to
efforts to reduce climate changes emissions.
Until today most estimates of UK food-related climate emissions have put the
figure at 20% cent of total UK consumption emissions. However, How Low Can
We Go reveals that when you include land use change in overseas countries,
such as deforestation driven by our demand for food, the figure jumps to
30%.
The report also found that:
- All stages of the UK food chain give rise to emissions, with the breakdown
as follows: production and initial processing (34%); manufacturing,
distribution, retail and cooking (26 per cent) and agriculturally-induced
land use change (40%).
- Livestock farming accounts for 57% of agricultural emissions and is also
responsible for three quarters of land use change emissions.
WWF and FCRN are urging Government and industry decision-makers to recognise
that a focus on technology alone is not enough – food consumption patterns
will need to change too. Recommendations from the report include:
- a significant switch to non-carbon fuels and increased energy efficiency
right across the economy; • increasing efficiency in both production and
processing of food (e.g. improved crop yields, changes to animal feeds to
reduce methane emissions, reducing waste by processers and adopting
climate-friendly refrigeration systems); and • changes in the types of food
we consume.
Tara Garnett, head of the Food Climate Research Network said:
“We now know enough to conclude that the food system contributes very
substantially to the problem of climate change. We also know enough about
where and how the impacts arise to start doing something about them.
Business as usual is no longer an option.”
