Study: 20% of Americans responsible for nearly half of U.S. food-related greenhouse gas emissions
If Americans in the highest impact group shifted their diets to align with the average U.S. diet, the 1-day greenhouse gas emissions reduction would be equivalent to eliminating 661 million passenger vehicle miles.
On any given day, 20% of Americans account for nearly half of U.S. diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, with high levels of beef consumption being a large factor, according to a new study released by researchers at Tulane University, New Orleans, La., and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
To estimate the impact of diet on emissions, researchers determined the environmental impacts involved in producing more than 300 types of foods. They then linked this database to results of a 1-day dietary survey involving more than 16,000 American adults.