Source record
Tracking UK Food System Greenhouse Gas Emissions
WRAP (2021).
Key findings
- The UK food consumption footprint, including overseas production, was about 160 Mt CO₂e in 2019, equivalent to about 35% of UK territorial emissions.
Record
- Source type
- Report
- Study type
- Review
- Topics
- Climate & emissions
- Geography
- See study or jurisdiction in title
- Funding & conflicts
- Not recorded.
- Source quality
- Moderate evidenceImported from the dated research notes; original-source editorial verification remains pending.
Limitations
- The numerator includes imported emissions while the territorial denominator does not. This is a ratio, not a territorial sector share.
Statistics we use from this source
- 35%UK food consumption footprint relative to UK territorial emissions
Claims this source supports
EnvironmentStrong evidence
Reducing meat and dairy consumption, especially beef and lamb, is one of the largest ways an individual's diet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Yes. Animal foods produce most of food's emissions, and beef and lamb produce the most per gram of protein. Eating less of them lowers a diet's footprint substantially.