Climate Change And The American Diet

Generated Summary

This report is based on a nationally representative survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and Earth Day Network. The survey was conducted from December 6 – 11, 2019, with a sample of 1,043 adults (18+) in the U.S. The research investigates Americans’ food choices, eating habits, motivations, and barriers related to plant-based foods, and awareness of the connection between food and global warming. The study examines the willingness of Americans to make dietary changes, food-related choices, and their global warming beliefs. The survey employed web-based self-administered questionnaires. The average margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The study aims to understand the relationship between dietary habits and climate change perceptions among Americans.

Key Findings & Statistics

Food production generates up to 30% of total global emissions.
While only 4% of Americans identify as vegan or vegetarian, the vast majority (94%) are willing to eat more fruit and vegetables.
55% of Americans are willing to eat more plant-based meat alternatives, and 54% are willing to eat less red meat.
About half of Americans (49%) think a meal with a plant-based main course is more expensive than a meat-based main course.
58% of Americans say it costs too much to buy plant-based foods.
63% say they would eat more plant-based foods if they cost less than meat options.
67% would eat more plant-based foods if they tasted better.
77% say that ease and speed of preparation is at least “moderately” important when choosing to purchase or eat plant-based foods.
64% of Americans say nobody has ever asked them to eat more plant-based foods.
51% would eat more plant-based foods if they had more information about the environmental impact of different products.
91% of Americans say their health is at least a “moderately” important reason to purchase or eat plant-based foods.
27% have rewarded food companies taking steps to reduce their environmental impact by buying their products.
21% have punished food companies for not taking steps to reduce their impact.
20% of lower-income Americans (households earning less than $50,000 annually) lack access to a nearby grocery store/market, compared to 11% of middle-income and 9% of higher-income Americans.
14% of lower-income Americans lack access to fresh produce, compared to 6% of middle- and higher-income Americans.
53% of lower-income Americans say it is too much effort to buy plant-based foods.
71% of lower-income Americans say plant-based foods cost too much.
More than half of Americans think the production of beef (27%), pork, dairy, and/or poultry contribute at least “a little” to global warming, with fewer people connecting dairy production.
30% or more Americans say they never eat fast food for dinner.
Two in three Americans (67%) say they would eat more plant-based foods if plant-based foods tasted better.
63% say they would eat more plant-based foods if they cost less than meat options.
Three in ten Americans (30%) say they hear about the impact of food choices on global warming in the media once a month or more often.
64% of Americans say nobody has ever asked them to eat more plant-based foods.
77% of Alarmed individuals (the most engaged) are willing to eat more plant-based meat alternatives, while only 39% of others are.

Other Important Findings

A majority of Americans do not consider themselves to be vegetarians or vegans, but most Americans are willing to eat more plant-based foods, and more than half are willing to eat less red meat.
Health is the top motivation for purchasing or eating plant-based foods.
Lower-income Americans are more likely to face barriers to purchasing or eating plant-based foods.
Most Americans think that the production of meat contributes at least “a little” to global warming, but many do not make the connection between food and global warming.
Most Americans think that if everyone threw away less food and/or composted food waste, it would reduce global warming at least “a little.”
Americans who are among the “Alarmed” or “Concerned” in Global Warming’s Six Americas are more willing than other Americans to adopt a more plant-based diet and engage in pro-climate food behaviors.
Alarmed Americans are more likely to look for information about the environmental impact of different products and/or foods and talk to family and friends about it.
About one in four Americans (27%) say they have rewarded food companies that are taking steps to reduce their impact on the environment by buying their products at least once in the last 12 months.
About one in five Americans (21%) say they have punished food companies that are not taking steps to reduce their impact on the environment by not buying their products over the last 12 months.

Limitations Noted in the Document

The study’s reliance on self-reported data may be subject to response bias.
The study’s cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality.
The survey’s focus on U.S. adults restricts the generalizability of the findings to other populations.
The survey was conducted in 2019; therefore, the findings may not fully reflect more recent shifts in consumer behavior and awareness.
The reliance on online surveys may exclude individuals without internet access, potentially skewing the sample.
The study design might not fully capture the complexities of individual dietary choices and their environmental impacts.
The study does not explore the impact of specific food choices on global warming in detail.

Conclusion

The study underscores a growing awareness of the environmental impacts of food choices among Americans, while also revealing significant gaps in understanding and behavior. The findings highlight a willingness to adopt more plant-based diets, particularly among those most concerned about climate change. Key insights include the importance of health, taste, convenience, and cost as drivers of dietary choices, as well as the barriers faced by lower-income individuals. The report emphasizes the need for better consumer education regarding the connection between food and global warming. Addressing barriers such as cost, taste, and lack of information could increase the adoption of more sustainable eating habits. The fact that a majority of Americans are willing to make changes in their diets and the willingness to eat more plant-based foods is an important finding. The study suggests that targeted interventions, such as promoting plant-based alternatives, improving access to information, and making sustainable food choices more accessible and affordable, could contribute to reducing the environmental impact of food production and consumption. This report provides insights that can inform policies and campaigns aimed at promoting dietary changes that support both personal health and environmental sustainability.

IFFS Team Summary

Category: GHGs / US-focused
This report is based on findings from a nationally representative survey conducted by a Yale Program
1043 adults (18+) – Dec 2019
71% of Americans eat beef at least once a week. And only 4% call themselves vegetarian or vegan.
BUT 94% are willing to eat more fruit and vegetables, 54% to eat less red meat, 55% to eat more plant-based meat alternatives, 46% to use more dairy alternatives (e.g., soy milk), and 26% are willing to eat lab-grown meat (!).
MOTIVATIONS to eat more plant-based foods: Health 91%. Influence food companies to protect the environment 71%. Reduce global warming 64%. Protect animals 64%.
BARRIERS to eating more plant-based foods: No one has ever asked me to 64%. Cost 58%. I don’t know what to buy 53%. I don’t know how to cook them 47%. I don’t like the taste 44%.
Lack of access is especially important for low-income Americans. 20% don’t have a grocery store near their home (see “food deserts”). 14% don’t have access to fresh produce (fruits and vegetables).
43% of Americans think beef production does not contribute to global warming or don’t know. Only 27% think it contributes a lot. Only 29% say they hear about the link between food and climate change in the media once a month or more. Lots of education needed.
The Alarmed and Concerned (now more than half of Americans) are much more willing to change their diets, talk to friends and family, and reward or punish food companies, because of global warming.