As global temperatures continue to rise, the role that agriculture and animal farming plays in global emissions is increasingly coming under the attention and scrutiny of the public eye. Without addressing the emissions of the food system, it will not be possible to meet our climate change obligations. Research suggests that the food system is responsible for about one-third of all global greenhouse gas emissions, with over 80% of this resulting from rearing livestock.

But just at the same moment when the food choices available to the average consumer have never been greater, the comparative costs of much of the food we eat, and the toll it is having on our planet, have become ever more apparent. Whilst images of animals suffering in slaughterhouses have been part of campaigns against meat eating for many decades, it is only relatively recently that concerns about the environment have also begun to lead people to the same conclusion. Livestock rearing contributes to global warming not only through the methane gas the animals produce, but also via deforestation to expand pastures for example.

Confronted with the unpalatable truth around our current food systems, people are being encouraged to make their food choices based on environmental impact or carbon footprint. The climatarian diet is just one of many responses that have emerged as a way of participating in meaningful climate action. The diet transpired as part of the wider appeal for people to begin considering the environmental impact of their food choices and adjusting wherever possible, urging for a holistic approach. It is a way of eating guided by the principles of environmental sustainability, and proponents of climatarianism claim that the diet is based on clear scientific data. 

The core principles of climatarianism involve eating locally, reducing meat consumption,  choosing lower-impact meats, and eliminating food waste wherever possible. Seeking to reduce the consumption of those foods that are identified as the largest emitters of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, eating large amounts of beef and lamb are discouraged. This is because cows and sheep are ruminants and produce immense amounts of methane, use more land than other farmed animals, and have about five times the climate impact of other animals used for meat. Instead, the diet advocates to swap these for chicken or fish. The diet also covers other aspects of our food production and emphasises locally grown and whole foods over foods that contribute to environmental disruption. 

Food is front and centre in tackling the climate change crisis, but can this climate-minded way of eating make an even bigger difference than veganism?

Different diets have varying impacts on the planet, and climatarianism creates an opportunity for the individual to reduce harm without having to fully commit to eliminating meat and dairy. Research revealed that “if the most detrimental half of meat and dairy production was replaced by vegan foods, then the planet would see two-thirds of the benefits of ridding all meat and dairy industries”.

Additionally, in a country where over 90 percent of people still consume animal products, a mass transition to veganism overnight is hardly realistic. Short of turning vegan, scientists are urging people to begin by reducing their meat and dairy consumption. The climatarian diet has been praised for its flexibility and inclusivity as it caters to those who wish to reduce the impact of their diet but do not want to quit eating animal products, “It’s not all or nothing, just do what you can”, states a video on the Climatarian website.

While the flexibility of the diet initially makes it an appealing choice, this new, trendy sustainability diet is not void of criticism. The climatarian organisation makes greenwashed recommendations, suggesting that we eat free range animal products in order to lower the carbon footprint of our diets. 

Unfortunately, the idea of a happy chicken is something of an illusion. In reality ‘free range’ is an unregulated marketing term in many countries, including the UK. This means that most animal products labelled as ‘free range’ still live in factory farms or CAFOs, with no laws governing emissions, the handling of animals’ waste or welfare. 

The diet also urges consumers to buy ‘pasture-raised, grass-fed beef’, from ethical and sustainable suppliers. Grass-fed beef, also believed to have a relatively low impact on Earth, still generates more emissions than plant-based food. 

There are also ethical issues with the climatarian approach – is it necessary to be slaughtering animals for nutrition and protein which we know can come from a plant-based diet? 

This then begs the question, which diet is best for the environment? According to the most comprehensive analysis of farming’s impact on the planet, plant-based food is the most effective at combating climate change. Whilst a climatarian diet can help eliminate some of those barriers and can be useful in transitioning to a more-plant based diet, the researchers discovered that even the lowest impact meat and dairy products still harm the planet more than the least sustainable vegetable and cereal foods. 

Oxford University researcher Joseph Poore, who led the landmark study, said adopting a vegan diet is “the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth.” Poore’s food analysis found that even the lowest impact beef generates six times more greenhouse gases than plant-based protein like peas. According to the research, beef creates up to 105kg of greenhouse gases to make 100g of meat, whilst tofu produces less than 3.5kg to make the same amount of food. 

Whilst climatarianism encourages us to replace beef with chicken or fish instead, the issue is not exclusive to cow meat. The study found that one serving of chicken is responsible for producing 52g of carbon dioxide, whilst cheese produces 74g. In contrast, plant-based foods like beans and lentils emit 1.9 grams and 2 grams of carbon respectively.

The picture of environmental degradation is not just limited to rising emissions. The significant amount of land used for meat and dairy production raises multiple problems for the planet. The National Food Strategy report showed that approximately 70% of land in the UK is devoted to agriculture, mainly livestock and livestock feed and pasture. That’s not all: half of the total land we use for our food production is from overseas, leading to the combined land area for rearing beef and lamb for UK consumption being larger than the UK itself. Although the climatarian diet does advocate for a decrease in the scale of animal agriculture, the scale of action required is much bigger than anticipated, with dual pressures of growing populations and the rising demand for meat worldwide posing a serious challenge.

In terms of environment, even the climatarian website itself reaches the same conclusion, stating “If you want to choose the best diet for the planet go vegan […] There is no question that a plant-based diet has the lowest climate impact.”

Check out other environmental Food for Thought pieces:

Is Veganuary Actually Good for the Environment?

Meat Consumption and the Climate Crisis

Are Plant-Based Diets Here to Stay?