Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Diet, Energy, and Global Warming

Gidon Eshel Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

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Pamela A. Martin Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

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Print Publication:
01 Apr 2006
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/EI167.1
Page(s):
1–17
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Abstract

The energy consumption of animal- and plant-based diets and, more broadly, the range of energetic planetary footprints spanned by reasonable dietary choices are compared. It is demonstrated that the greenhouse gas emissions of various diets vary by as much as the difference between owning an average sedan versus a sport-utility vehicle under typical driving conditions. The authors conclude with a brief review of the safety of plant-based diets, and find no reasons for concern.

* Corresponding author address: Gidon Eshel, Dept. of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, 5734 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. geshel@uchicago.edu

Abstract

The energy consumption of animal- and plant-based diets and, more broadly, the range of energetic planetary footprints spanned by reasonable dietary choices are compared. It is demonstrated that the greenhouse gas emissions of various diets vary by as much as the difference between owning an average sedan versus a sport-utility vehicle under typical driving conditions. The authors conclude with a brief review of the safety of plant-based diets, and find no reasons for concern.

* Corresponding author address: Gidon Eshel, Dept. of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, 5734 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. geshel@uchicago.edu

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