The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has identified India’s food consumption patterns as the most climate-friendly among G20 nations, according to its latest Living Planet Report released on Thursday. The report emphasizes that India’s dietary habits are the least damaging to the environment, particularly when considering the projected global food demand by 2050. If every country were to adopt India’s consumption patterns, the world would require less than one Earth to meet its food needs, positioning India as a model for sustainability.
In contrast, countries like Argentina, Australia, and the United States were noted for having the least sustainable food consumption patterns.
Food Emissions and Sustainability
The report warns that if all G20 nations followed their current food consumption habits by 2050, food-related greenhouse gas emissions would surpass the 1.5°C climate target by 263%. This scenario would necessitate between one to seven Earths to sustain food production. However, under India’s dietary practices, the world would need less than one Earth (0.84), which is an improvement over the established planetary boundaries for food systems.
“If everyone in the world adopted the current food consumption patterns of the world’s major economies by 2050, we would exceed the 1.5°C climate target for food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 263%, and it would take between one and seven Earths to support us,” the report states, highlighting the significance of India’s Millet Mission.
Argentina emerged as the country with the least sustainable food consumption, requiring 7.4 Earths, followed by Australia and the USA. Countries like Indonesia and China also performed well, but India led the group with the most climate-friendly food system.
Promotion of Sustainable Diets
The report praised India’s National Millet Campaign for encouraging the consumption of climate-resilient grains such as millets, which are not only nutritious but also better suited to a changing climate. It urged nations to adopt more sustainable diets, recommending alternative proteins such as legumes, plant-based meats, and nutrient-rich algae to mitigate the environmental impact of food production.
“In some countries, promoting traditional foods will be an important lever to shift diets. For example, India’s National Millet Campaign is designed to increase national consumption of this ancient grain, which is good for health and highly resilient in the face of climate change,” the report notes.
The document further emphasizes that achieving healthy and nutritious diets will be greatly influenced by local cultural traditions, individual choices, and the availability of food.
“Eating more sustainable diets would reduce the amount of land needed for food production. Grazing land, in particular, could be freed up for other purposes, including nature restoration and carbon sequestration,” the report highlights.
Overall, the WWF’s Living Planet Report underscores the importance of adopting sustainable food consumption patterns globally. India’s leadership in this arena serves as an example for other nations to follow, demonstrating that dietary changes can significantly impact environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
