The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change
Abstract Air pollution increases cardiovascular and respiratory-disease risk, and reduces cognitive and physical performance. Food production, especially of animal products, is a major source of methane and ammonia emissions which contribute to air pollution through the formation of particulate matt...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41789-3 |
| _version_ | 1827710083452108800 |
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| author | Marco Springmann Rita Van Dingenen Toon Vandyck Catharina Latka Peter Witzke Adrian Leip |
| author_facet | Marco Springmann Rita Van Dingenen Toon Vandyck Catharina Latka Peter Witzke Adrian Leip |
| author_sort | Marco Springmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Air pollution increases cardiovascular and respiratory-disease risk, and reduces cognitive and physical performance. Food production, especially of animal products, is a major source of methane and ammonia emissions which contribute to air pollution through the formation of particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Here we show that dietary changes towards more plant-based flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets could lead to meaningful reductions in air pollution with health and economic benefits. Using systems models, we estimated reductions in premature mortality of 108,000-236,000 (3-6%) globally, including 20,000-44,000 (9-21%) in Europe, 14,000-21,000 (12-18%) in North America, and 49,000-121,000 (4-10%) in Eastern Asia. We also estimated greater productivity, increasing economic output by USD 0.6-1.3 trillion (0.5-1.1%). Our findings suggest that incentivising dietary changes towards more plant-based diets could be a valuable mitigation strategy for reducing ambient air pollution and the associated health and economic impacts, especially in regions with intensive agriculture and high population density. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:32:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-024ad3c3e62347cb8a6b90ef1b83ee4b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:32:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-024ad3c3e62347cb8a6b90ef1b83ee4b2023-11-20T09:57:37ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-10-011411810.1038/s41467-023-41789-3The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary changeMarco Springmann0Rita Van Dingenen1Toon Vandyck2Catharina Latka3Peter Witzke4Adrian Leip5Environmental Change Institute, University of OxfordEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC)European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC)Institute for Food and Resource Economics, University of BonnInstitute for Food and Resource Economics, University of BonnEuropean Commission, DG Research & Innovation, Bioeconomy and Food Systems UnitAbstract Air pollution increases cardiovascular and respiratory-disease risk, and reduces cognitive and physical performance. Food production, especially of animal products, is a major source of methane and ammonia emissions which contribute to air pollution through the formation of particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Here we show that dietary changes towards more plant-based flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets could lead to meaningful reductions in air pollution with health and economic benefits. Using systems models, we estimated reductions in premature mortality of 108,000-236,000 (3-6%) globally, including 20,000-44,000 (9-21%) in Europe, 14,000-21,000 (12-18%) in North America, and 49,000-121,000 (4-10%) in Eastern Asia. We also estimated greater productivity, increasing economic output by USD 0.6-1.3 trillion (0.5-1.1%). Our findings suggest that incentivising dietary changes towards more plant-based diets could be a valuable mitigation strategy for reducing ambient air pollution and the associated health and economic impacts, especially in regions with intensive agriculture and high population density.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41789-3 |
| spellingShingle | Marco Springmann Rita Van Dingenen Toon Vandyck Catharina Latka Peter Witzke Adrian Leip The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change Nature Communications |
| title | The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change |
| title_full | The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change |
| title_fullStr | The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change |
| title_full_unstemmed | The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change |
| title_short | The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change |
| title_sort | global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41789-3 |
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