An academic study suggests that a food tax based on a product's carbon footprint could significantly reduce diet-related greenhouse gas emissions, and also benefit public health.
Food is responsible for around a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), but food production and consumption have long been excluded from climate policies, because of concerns that they would unfairly impact people who were food insecure.
Now a group of researchers has used computer modelling to show not only that a tax based on a product's carbon footprint could reduce diet-related GHGs by almost a tenth, but also that if appropriately designed such a scheme need not jeopardise food security in poorer countries.
For the greatest positive effect, the researchers recommend applying the tax to all food products, either with an exception for fruits and vegetables, which could be reduced in price, or financial compensation for consumers in the poorest countries. This scenario could save 510,000 lives each year without any country being left worse off. It would also prevent the emission of 919 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, or 8.6% of the global total linked to food.
The research was published here in Nature Climate Change and reported in Euractiv here. Read more here about Sustain's campaigning work for a greener, fairer food system.
Published Friday 11 November 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
