Nutrition & Climate Change

Climate change is of a serious concern, with the 10 warmest years on historical records occurring

since 2010 [1]. The health of the planet is intertwined with the health of its inhabitants. Hannah

Pathek, Director of UK and Europe, Forum for the Future, rightly said, “You can’t have healthy

people on an unhealthy planet.” Our actions affect the planet and come at a great cost- an

estimated $2–$4 billion worth of direct damage to health per year by 2030 [2].

Two critical areas contributing to climate change are healthcare and food systems.

The current scenario of the healthcare system adds to the climate burden with 5% increased

greenhouse gas emissions [3]. If healthcare was a country, it would be the fifth largest polluter on

Earth [4], with over 70% of the emissions coming from logistics of medications, food, and medical

equipment.

Catalyzing a shift towards preventive medicine will greatly decrease the burden on hospitals. Like

cardiovascular diseases, which is one of the highest contributors to the global burden of disease [5],

many chronic illnesses are preventable. For instance, 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes

can be prevented through lifestyle modifications [6]. Prevention of disease exacerbation is a key

strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 [7]. Around 75% of the chronic diseases are

lifestyle related, making these interventions easily adoptable and cost effective. For context, a 2017

USA study found that using lifestyle modifications such as diet to reduce HbA1c by 1% can lead to

13% reduction in diabetes-related healthcare costs, around $42 billion [8].

What you eat also has a major impact on the environment. Global food production contributes to

35% of all greenhouse gas emissions with the use of animals being responsible for almost 60% of all

food production emissions [9]. In an eye-opening comparison, 1kg of vegetables produces 0.7kg of

greenhouse gases, compared to 70kg produced by a kg of beef [10]. Every step towards decreasing

this trend helps. If every person in the U.S. cut their meat consumption by 25%, it would reduce

annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1% [11]. Plant-based diets come with big environmental

benefits. Plant-based diets produce 75% less greenhouse gases, 75% less water pollution and use

75% less land [12].

Moving towards a plant-based diet benefits your and the planet’s health. EAT-Lancet encourages a

planetary diet in their 2019 Food Planet Health report. “A planetary health plate should consist by

volume half a plate of vegetables and fruits; the other half should consist of primarily whole grains,

plant protein sources, unsaturated plant oils, and (optionally) modest amounts of animal sources of

protein.” This dietary pattern will help lower incidences of many chronic illnesses [13]. If you love

meat, plant-based meats are a great sustainable alternative. They emit 30%–90% less greenhouse

gas than conventional meat. Plant-based diets are pro-longevity, with one study estimating an

upwards of 10 years added to your lifespan. Increasing consumption of whole grains, nuts and fruits

and decreasing sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats brought the most benefits [14].

Taking action today to improve the healthcare system and adopt sustainable diet will not only

benefit us today but will ensure a healthy and viable future for generations to come.

#ClimateChange #Healthcare #Sustainability #Environment

References