GHG Emissions Associated with Food Diets Eaten in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

The purpose of this paper is to measure the emissions of Greenhouse gas (GHG) related to the diets eaten in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, by different groups of consumers, as well as to examine whether the taxes currently applied to food products are consistent with the environmental damages caused by them. We found that from 73% to 87% of the diet-related GHG emissions come from only two types of foods: beef and dairy. Rice is the main emitter among the foods of plant origin. The results also show that the diets of low-income individuals emit significantly less, while the diets of residents of countryside and small towns emit more than the diets of residents of São Paulo capital and the metropolitan area. Regarding the relationship between the existing taxes products and the hypothetical environmental taxes, we found that the existing taxes are too low for GHG-intensive foods and too high for less GHG-intensive foods, a pattern that tends to restrict the consumption of eco-friendly food items, as well as to stimulate the consumption of foods with high carbon footprints. A review of the tax policy applied to food products taking into account their GHG intensity is highly recommended, but the impact of such policy on nutrition and health should also be considered.