Greenhouse gas emissions of food consumption per person

Definition

Greenhouse gas emissions (measured in carbon dioxide equivalent) related to current food consumption patterns. Food consumption is estimated using FAO Food Balance Sheets data as a proxy.

Relevance

Greenhouse gas emissions cause climate change, which drives wide-ranging negative impacts on the environment (global warming, sea level rise, extreme weather events) and for human health. Food production and livestock directly contribute to emissions, in addition to indirectly contributing to emissions through land use change.

Additional Information

Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science, 360(6392), 987-992.