EAT-Lancet Report: Plant-Based Diet Shift Could Avoid 15 Million Deaths, Cut 15% Agricultural Emissions

Recent studies and reports highlight the critical impact of current food systems on global health and climate change. The EAT-Lancet Commission reveals that shifting to healthier, predominantly plant-based diets could prevent about 15 million deaths annually and reduce agricultural emissions by 15%, emphasizing the need for reduced red meat consumption, especially in developed nations. Food waste in the UK alone amounts to 10.7 million tonnes annually, much of it edible, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and food insecurity. Experts warn that without substantial reforms in food production and consumption, achieving climate goals, biodiversity protection, and food security will be impossible, even with cleaner energy sources. The "planetary health diet" proposed focuses on grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and limited animal protein, aligning human and planetary health objectives. Furthermore, food systems are a primary driver of ecological degradation, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change to stay within Earth's safe environmental limits.