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The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has highlighted India's food consumption pattern as the most climate-friendly among G20 nations, suggesting that adopting India's dietary practices could contribute significantly to global sustainability. The organization's recent Living Planet Report, released on Thursday, emphasizes the urgent need to address unsustainable food consumption patterns in order to mitigate the environmental impact of food production. The report underscores that if the world were to adopt the current food consumption patterns of major economies by 2050, it would exceed the 1.5°C climate target for food-related greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 263%. This would require resources exceeding what a single Earth can provide, making it a pressing issue for global policymakers and individuals alike.
The report further highlights the public health implications of unsustainable diets, noting that overconsumption of fats and sugars is driving a global obesity epidemic, with over 2.5 billion adults now overweight, including 890 million living with obesity. Recognizing that achieving healthy and nutritious diets requires a multifaceted approach, the WWF emphasizes the importance of considering local cultural traditions, individual choices, and food availability. The report acknowledges the role of the National Millet Campaign in India, which promotes the consumption of climate-resilient grains such as millets, offering a potential model for other countries seeking to shift towards more sustainable dietary practices.
The report suggests that in developed countries, dietary shifts should include a greater proportion of plant-based foods and fewer animal products. Meanwhile, in countries facing significant burdens of undernutrition, hunger, and food insecurity, achieving nutritious diets may require increasing consumption, including animal-source foods. The WWF recommends developing and promoting healthy alternative protein sources such as legumes, nutri-cereals, plant-based meat alternatives, and algal species. The report also emphasizes the need for financial incentives to increase the availability, affordability, and appeal of nutritious foods, particularly in countries with limited natural resources to grow their own food. This includes supporting healthy food imports and exports, ensuring equitable access to healthy and sustainable food for all.
Source: India’s climate-friendly diet, sustainable eating habits could save the planet, says WWF