Why it matters

Food and the climate

According to research by the UN, between 13% and 21% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally come from farming and related use of land.

So what we eat really matters.

It doesn’t mean we have to change everything, or stop eating the things we enjoy. There are simple changes we can make to eat more sustainably and still make sure we have flavour-packed, delicious food.

And the good news is a more sustainable diet is often cheaper and healthier as well.

The issues

Farming and carbon emissions

Between 13% and 21% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from farming and related use of land. Raising animals for meat and diary products is particularly carbon intensive. Meat makes up approximately 5% of the food consumed by London households by mass, yet it's responsible for 27% of London's food-related consumption-based emissions. On the other hand, fruit and veg represent 21% of the food consumed by mass, yet are responsible for only 4% of consumption-based emissions.

It doesn't mean we have to stop eating meat altogether, but a few smart choices can cut the carbon footprint of our diet.

The impact of food waste

Globally as much as 1/3rd of the food we grow is wasted. In the UK we waste as much as 10 million tonnes a year - around 6.6 million tonnes of which is from our homes! In fact, in London alone, 67% of the food we throw away is still edible.

Most people don't even realise they waste food, but it costs the average British household up to £720 a year. One out of every five bags of food we buy ends up going in the bin.

But with a few tips and tricks, it's easy to save money and cut your carbon footprint.