A global crisis such as the climate one can only be resolved with collective (and political) actions, capable of guiding individual behavior, but starting by setting a good example is always a good idea: how? For example, starting with the food we consume every day. According to the Fondazione Barilla, rethinking our approach to food, eliminating food waste, favoring seasonal foods, choosing sustainable products and following healthier, balanced and plant-based diets,could move Overshoot day (i.e. the day in which humanity consumes entirely the resources produced by the planet throughout the year) ahead of 32 days. For example, it is enough to think that in 2020, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, Overshoot Day fell on August 22, while in 2019 it occurred on July 29: a full 23 days difference! Current food systems, in addition to causing large wastes of arable land, water, biodiversity, require high amounts of energy and are still very dependent on fossil fuels. This dependence is highest for the production of food of animal origin, however many crops also often travel long distances before reaching consumers. The entire food system, as highlighted in the latest report published by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the main international body for the assessment of climate change) contributes up to 37% of the global greenhouse gas emissions responsible for Cimate change. So how can we do our part?
The Barilla Foundation has developed some simple tips that can be put into practice every day:
- prefer plant-based foods;
- buy from local farmers according to seasonality;
- choose foods produced with sustainable agricultural practices;
- follow healthy and sustainable diets, such as the Mediterranean diet.
Source: Green Report