A comprehensive analysis of 55,000 UK diets has found that vegan eating reduces climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use by 75% compared to high-meat diets. The study, published in Nature Food, is the most detailed to date, using real dietary data and farm-level impacts from 38,000 farms across 119 countries.
The research showed that vegan diets also cut wildlife destruction by 66% and water use by 54%. Low-meat diets (under 50g of meat daily) had half the environmental impact of high-meat diets, but differences between low-meat, pescetarian, and vegetarian diets were relatively small.
Lead author Professor Peter Scarborough of Oxford University said: “Our dietary choices have a big impact on the planet. Cutting down the amount of meat and dairy in your diet can make a big difference to your dietary footprint.” The study found that what people ate mattered far more than how or where food was produced.
The global food system emits a third of greenhouse gases, uses 70% of freshwater, and causes 80% of river and lake pollution. Researchers said rich nations must radically reduce meat and dairy consumption to meet climate targets, and that other measures like technology and reducing food waste would not be enough.
A government spokesperson said people should make their own food choices, but the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change has recommended mandatory environmental labelling, regulation of promotions, and taxation of high-carbon foods.
