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Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health

Author

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  • David Tilman

    (Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota
    Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Michael Clark

    (Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota)

Abstract

Diets link environmental and human health. Rising incomes and urbanization are driving a global dietary transition in which traditional diets are replaced by diets higher in refined sugars, refined fats, oils and meats. By 2050 these dietary trends, if unchecked, would be a major contributor to an estimated 80 per cent increase in global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from food production and to global land clearing. Moreover, these dietary shifts are greatly increasing the incidence of type II diabetes, coronary heart disease and other chronic non-communicable diseases that lower global life expectancies. Alternative diets that offer substantial health benefits could, if widely adopted, reduce global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, reduce land clearing and resultant species extinctions, and help prevent such diet-related chronic non-communicable diseases. The implementation of dietary solutions to the tightly linked diet–environment–health trilemma is a global challenge, and opportunity, of great environmental and public health importance.

Suggested Citation

  • David Tilman & Michael Clark, 2014. "Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7528), pages 518-522, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:515:y:2014:i:7528:d:10.1038_nature13959
    DOI: 10.1038/nature13959
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