Cyberterra, 16 April 2010 — At
least some in the British government seem to get it: what is good for
the health of human beings, is also good for the health of the planet!
To fight climate change and tackle the growing crisis of diet-related
diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, British consumers
must cut down on meat and dairy produce, reduce their intake of
processed foods, and curb waste. The Sustainable Development Commission
(SDC) report recommends that people reduce energy consumption by
shopping more on foot or over the internet, and that they replace
bottled water with tap water.
A shift away from meat and dairy to more seasonal and field-grown (as
opposed to glasshouse-grown) vegetables and fruit is recommended. The
way that farmland is used will have to change. Grass-fed rather than
grain-fed animals are a more sustainable use of resources, the report
says. There should be "an increase in consumption of foods produced
with respect for wildlife and the environment, eg organic". The SDC
report also highlights soya and palm oil as the sort of consumption
that damages the environment while providing calories of low
nutritional value.
"Cutting down on meat and dairy, eating only sustainably sourced fish,
fruit and vegetables, would all help reduce the impact of our food
system as well as improving health," sustainable development
commissioner Professor Tim Lang said.
Professor Tim Lang suggests a more holistic approach to both human and
environmental health problems.
Cutting the consumption of meat and dairy products reduces the
incidence of
cardiovascular disease, of some forms of cancer, and of animal-borne
infections; but it also has environmental benefits such as considerably
reducing
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, slows off deforestation,
frees up farm land for other use, frees up water resources, slows
biodiversity
loss, lowers food prices, and produces higher
employment.
Cutting the consumption of processed foods and drinks, especially
fatty, sugary, and stimulant drinks reduces obesity, tooth decay, and
is likely to improve the health of low income groups; but it also has
environmental benefits because it cuts GHG emissions from
the energy-intense production of highly processed foods and bottled
water,
and it reduces land use.
Reducing waste, consuming no more calories than needed, and
accepting the fact that some foods may not always be available in the
UK cuts
obesity problems; produces a cheaper diet that would benefit poor
particularly; and produces less air pollution from food freight, as
well as less food
poisoning. However, there are also environmental benefits
such as reduced GHG emissions, reduced waste in agriculture, reduced
imported food and associated emissions, the report said.
