Shifting global diets could prevent 15 million premature deaths annually and cut agricultural emissions by 15%, according to a new international review of food’s role in health and climate.
The findings stress that energy reforms alone cannot protect the planet without equally urgent changes in how food is produced and consumed.
Researchers emphasise that today’s food systems are driving climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. They argue that unless humanity moves away from the current unsustainable path, efforts to meet climate and development targets will collapse.
The study updates the 2019 “planetary health diet” framework, which recommends meals centered on grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, while keeping animal protein and dairy to one daily serving and red meat to no more than once a week. While particularly aimed at high-income countries that consume disproportionate amounts of meat, the diet also lowers risks of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Food choices extend beyond emissions, touching biodiversity, land use, and water quality.
Researchers found that agriculture remains one of the biggest forces pushing Earth toward environmental tipping points. Cutting beef and lamb consumption to once weekly in wealthier nations alone could reduce emissions comparable to the annual output of Russia.
At the same time, the report highlights deep inequality in food systems, with nearly half the world’s population lacking reliable access to healthy diets, clean environments, or fair labor conditions. Vulnerable groups — including Indigenous communities, minorities, women, and children — are most affected.
Simple steps, like reducing red meat intake without eliminating it, improving crop yields, and cutting food waste, could collectively reduce agricultural greenhouse gases by up to 20%. Beyond environmental benefits, such changes also align with public health goals, underscoring that healthier diets and a healthier planet go hand in hand.
With global climate negotiations approaching, researchers urge governments to bring food into climate discussions, warning that ignoring this sector risks both human health and planetary stability.