11 october 2024 : In its latest Living Planet Report, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) highlighted India’s food consumption patterns as the most climate-friendly among G20 nations, emphasizing that India’s diet has the least environmental impact. If the world adopted India’s dietary habits, it would need less than one Earth to support food production by 2050, promoting sustainability on a global scale.
The report stressed the importance of addressing both food production and consumption to meet sustainability goals. It warned that if all countries followed the current food consumption trends of major economies, we would exceed the 1.5°C climate target for food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 263%, requiring multiple Earths to sustain the demand. It also noted the alarming rise of obesity, with over 2.5 billion adults being overweight, urging dietary changes to counteract the growing public health issue.
India’s food patterns, particularly the consumption of climate-resilient grains like millets, serve as a model for addressing future food challenges. The WWF praised India’s National Millet Campaign, which promotes these nutritious grains that are both healthy and adaptable to changing climates. The report also suggested that countries should focus on promoting alternative protein sources like legumes, plant-based meats, and algae, while supporting policies that make nutritious food more accessible and affordable globally.
The research indicates that achieving nutritious diets will depend on local traditions, cultural preferences, and available resources, and financial incentives are needed to make sustainable foods more appealing and affordable worldwide.
