Category: Classroom resources

More planet-friendly food system will improve our health, new Lancet Countdown report says 

The new 2025 Global Report from The Lancet Countdown offers a sobering look at climate impacts, finding that urgent climate action is needed to protect the planet and our health.

But it also lays out a clear path forward; one in which government action is crucial to mitigate and adapt to the worst impacts of a changing climate, and in which we each have the power to make change.  

  • Public interest and engagement with health and climate change is at a record high, according to search data 
  • Local action is shaping a healthier future for people and the planet 
  • We can each make important changes that make a difference every time we sit down to eat. 

What is the Lancet Countdown? 

The Lancet Countdown is an international research collaboration bringing together more than 300 health professionals, scientists, and researchers from around the world. By monitoring data and advocating for policy change, they work to ensure health is at the centre of decision-makers’ understanding and response to climate change. 

Each year, the Lancet Countdown releases a report outlining worldwide trends in climate and their impact on human health. The report also shares recommendations around the most impactful actions that can be taken to protect us from the impacts of climate change in the future. 

Key facts from the report

Where does plant-based food come in? 

Part of the report looks at the impact of our food system on both our personal health and the health of the planet.  

By shifting to more plant-based foods and reducing our consumption of animal products, particularly those with the highest climate impacts and the most negative climate outcomes like red meat and dairy, the Lancet Countdown report shows we can become a healthier population and planet. 

How does climate change impact our health? 

The health of our planet directly and closely impacts the health of the individuals who live on it. The report focusses on the relationship between human health and climate change. 

This is an issue that impacts everyone, but even moreso the most vulnerable people. The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect low HDI or Human Development Index, countries (countries with shorter average lifespans, lower education levels, and lower national income per capita) and less wealthy populations. 

Transitioning to a more plant-forward food system means reducing emissions, mitigating climate change, and improving air and water quality, which have widespread impacts on public health.  

Health impacts of rising temperatures 

The report shares that the health threats of climate change have reached concerning, unprecedented levels, leading to millions of preventable deaths each year. 

Between 2020 and 2024, an average of 84% of heat wave days people faced each year would not have occurred without climate change. Heat wave days can be especially dangerous and even fatal to people who are unable to access cool shelter, with massive widespread impacts in warmer countries close to the equator.  

Heat-related mortality rates have risen by 63% since the 1990s. The annual average of heat-related deaths in 2012-2021 was more than half a million. 

Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)01919-1/fulltext

Health impacts of a changing planet 

Hotter, drier conditions have led to an increase in wildfires, including unprecedented wildfire-driven tree losses in Canada. Sadly, an estimated 154,000 deaths were caused by wildfire smoke exposure in 2024. 

Extreme weather events caused at least another 16,000 deaths in 2024. More than 3,700 of those deaths were from 26 of the most impactful extreme weather events which were found to have been made more likely or more intense by human-caused climate change. 

Many sources of greenhouse gas emissions, including animal agriculture, also contribute to air pollution. Breathing in polluted air increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and other health problems. 

In addition, 123.7 million more people faced moderate or severe food insecurity associated with more droughts and heat waves in 2023 compared to 1981-2010. Food insecurity increases the risk of all forms of malnutrition. 

How can eating more plant-based foods protect the environment? 

Producing foods that come from animals like meat, dairy, and eggs uses more resources than their plant-based counterparts. That’s because animals consume large amounts of plant calories to live and require space for growing feed crops and for raising and slaughtering the animals. By contrast, plant-based foods can be consumed by humans directly to meet our nutrient needs. 

The vast majority of farmed animals on earth are farmed through intensive animal agriculture (also known as industrial animal agriculture or factory farming) to meet the high demand for animal products. Industrial animal agriculture poses particular concerns around animal welfare, environmental impacts such as pollution and feed production, and public health risks such as antibiotic resistance and zoonotic disease spread. 

How eating more plants is part of a greener future

How much difference can my meals actually make? Find out in the last blog post.

Read more

Major emissions reductions 

According to the Lancet Countdown report, food systems are responsible for up to one third of all greenhouse gas emissions, with farmed animals being the primary source. 55% of food emissions come from producing red meat and dairy.  

“As food systems become increasingly strained by environmental changes … dietary shifts towards less polluting, more resource-efficient foods and food production systems will be needed.” – 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, page 28 

Is eating plant-based foods good for our personal health? 

In addition to being healthier for the environment, a large body of research shows plant-based foods have better health outcomes for our bodies.  

There is a broad consensus among health professionals and nutrition experts that we should be eating more plant-based, whole foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds, while reducing intake of red and processed meats. 

Find tasty ways to incorporate more plant ingredients into your diet with PlantUniversity’s recipe library:

Recipe library

Lower risk of chronic disease and death 

The report notes that 1.9 million deaths were attributable to excessive red meat and dairy intake in 2022. The largest proportional increase in attributable deaths came from high meat consumption, with the most impacts from diet in high HDI countries.

“Red and processed meats are risk factors for non-communicable diseases, and excessive intake of animal-source foods also contributes to weight-related morbidity and mortality.” – 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change, page 28 

Source: https://lancetcountdown.org/2025-report-visual-summary/

Also from The Lancet: The EAT-Lancet Commission 

Another detailed and reliable resource from the world-leading medical journal, The Lancet, is the EAT-Lancet commission. This Commission looks at healthy, sustainable, and just food systems, and presents new evidence-based insights on nutrition and human health.  

Stay tuned for more information about the EAT-Lancet Commission and how we can make meaningful change through our food systems on a global, local, and individual level! 

Major reports: We face a dire ecological crisis. If we act quickly, we can turn the crisis around.

This article was written by Dr. David Steele and was originally published on the Plant-Based Cities Movement website. It has been shared with permission.

The scientific community is sounding the alarm, and they’re doing it LOUDLY! Sadly, still, most of us are not paying attention. But if we did pay attention – and start to act appropriately – we can turn this around!

In the last few months, four major scientific reports on the state of the planet have been published. These include the 2025 State of the Climate Report, the Planetary Health Check 2025, the UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025 and the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0. All come to the same fundamental conclusion:

Earth’s ability to support life as we know it is at serious risk. If we are to avoid ecological catastrophe, we must take strong action to put ourselves back within planetary boundaries.

What reports say about our planet’s future

Both the State of the Climate Report and the Planetary Health Check open with the declaration that our planet’s vital signs are flashing red. The UNEP Report documents our failure, to date, to respond as needed; it notes that we must reduce GHG emissions by 35% by 2035 to keep warming below 2 degrees.

The EAT-Lancet report paints a similar picture and highlights data that shows that we must dramatically reduce our consumption of animal products if we are to have any hope of tackling global warming. It outlines a dietary plan by which we might accomplish that. It is not alone in this call for dietary change. All four reports call out aspects of animal agriculture as major causes of our predicament.

The good news is that we can turn things around, but we need to act now!

What can we do?

We must dramatically reduce our use of fossil fuels. For us, personally, that means minimizing our driving and flying to the maximum extent that we can. We must support the move to renewable energy sources.

We must also dramatically reduce our consumption of animal products. Doing so is one of the easiest actions we can take. It’s also the most quickly effective.

The major greenhouse gas emitted from animal agriculture is methane. Over a 20 year period, it has over 80 times the warming effect of CO2. It also disappears much faster than CO2. Methane is mostly gone after just 12 years; CO2 sticks around for hundreds.

Indeed, when one considers its actual warming effects while it’s in the atmosphere, it is straightforward to calculate that animal agriculture is responsible for roughly 30% of the immediate global warming we are experiencing. Dramatically reducing animal agriculture would, thus, quickly take a big bite out of that warming. It would buy us time to make the cuts in fossil fuel use we also need so very much to do.

And it gets better.

We could leverage this shift away from animal agriculture to pull much of the CO2 now in the atmosphere, right out of it.

According to a study published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature, rewilding just 30% of the land now used for agriculture could remove half of the CO2 emitted by the burning of fossil fuels since the dawn of the industrial revolution. Since 75% of agricultural land is used to raise and feed farmed animals, that’s a very realistic prospect. And, as the study’s authors emphasize, it would be among the cheapest possible ways by which to remove that carbon.

So, let’s do it!

Let’s collectively pull animal products from our plates. We’ll still have to slash our fossil fuel use, that’s for sure, but we’ll have more time to accomplish it and making the transition will be a whole lot easier.

The fact is, that if we don’t do it, then nature will do it for us – and, as the recent reports make all too clear, that transition will be very unpleasant, indeed.

For your convenience, here are links to the four recent reports and important highlights from each:

The 2025 state of the climate report: A planet on the brink

(https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/75/12/1016/8303627)

  • Global temperatures are at record highs
  • Climate-feedback loops are increasingly at play
  • Forests are burning at record rates

On the positive side, the authors note that

  • Climate change mitigation strategies are available, cost effective, and urgently needed.
  • “Social tipping points can drive rapid change. Even small, sustained nonviolent movements can shift public norms and policy, highlighting a vital path forward amid political gridlock and ecological crisis.”

Planetary Health Check 2025

(https://www.planetaryhealthcheck.org/)

  • Seven of the nine planetary boundaries – beyond which the Earth’s ability to sustain us are at risk – have been exceeded.
  • These include climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, freshwater depletion, overuse of agricultural fertilizers, and the release of artificial chemicals and plastics into the environment
  • Animal agriculture is a main driver for exceeding four of them and a major contributor to a fifth

Still, they highlight hope.

Quoting Johan Rockström, a senior author of the report, “Even if the diagnosis is dire, the window of cure is still open. Failure is not inevitable; failure is a choice. A choice that must and can be avoided.”

UNEP Emissions Gap 2025: Off target

(https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2025)

  • Countries are far from meeting Paris Climate goals
  • Annual emissions must drop by 35% by 2035, compared to 2019, if we’re going to keep warming below 2°C 
  • To keep warming below 1.5°C, emissions must drop by 55% in the same period
  • Alongside dramatic reductions in fossil fuel use, curtailment of agricultural emissions, especially from animal agriculture, are essential.

EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0: securing a just transition to healthy, environmentally sustainable diets for all

(https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)01290-4/abstract)

  • Food systems transformation is essential for solving climate, biodiversity and health crises
  • “Food drives five planetary boundary transgressions, including land system change, biosphere integrity, freshwater change, biogeochemical flows, and approximately 30% of greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change
  • Calls for the adoption of the ‘planetary health diet,’ rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, with only small amounts of meat, fish and dairy.

Dr. Steele is a molecular biologist retired from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He has also held faculty positions at Cornell and Queen’s Universities. Dr. Steele is a frequent public speaker and a regular contributor to Earthsave Canada’s publications. He is an occasional contributor to various other publications.

How eating more plants is part of a greener future

An overhead shot of squashes, yams and more.

You’ve probably seen the news—more people are leading the charge for plant-based eating to help the environment, from menu planners at climate conferences, to scientists, to students. You may have wondered, how much difference can my meals actually make?

Good news: the science is clear that what we eat is one of the most powerful climate choices we make every day. This blog post will break down the research and share how students can lead the way into a greener future.

With climate change accelerating and global emissions still rising, researchers are increasingly pointing to our food system as a major piece of the puzzle. And within that system, animal agriculture stands out as a key driver of environmental damage.

Research shows that shifting toward plant-based eating (even partially) can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and biodiversity loss.

Why food choices matter for the climate

Human activity emitted approximately 53 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2023. In Canada, emissions are especially high—nearly three times the global average per person [1].

Food plays a surprisingly large role in this. The global food system is responsible for 21–37% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, and animal-based foods generate roughly twice the emissions of plant-based foods [2].

That means climate action isn’t just important when we think about our modes of transportation or energy use; it’s also about what’s on our plates.

Animal foods vs. plant foods: a big emissions gap

Producing animal-based foods is inherently resource-intensive. Animals must be fed, housed, and managed. Ruminant animals like cows and sheep also produce methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide.

To put this into perspective:

  • 100 grams of protein from beef = 59 times more CO₂ equivalents than producing the same amount of protein from pulses (like lentils or beans) [3].
  • Animal products provide less than 1/5 of global calories, yet account for more than 1/2 of food-related CO₂ equivalent emissions [4].
  • In Canada, animal-based foods are the major contributors to food GHG emissions, contributing 67% of the impact. Globally, beef and dairy are the two biggest contributors within animal foods at 34% and 14-17% of the total respectively [5].
  • Meat and dairy are projected to account for more than 60% of food-related warming by the year 2100 if consumption continues on current trends. We’re projected to add 1 degree of warming from food by 2100, with more than 60% of that coming from meat and dairy [6]!
Source: Ivanovich, C. C., Sun, T., Gordon, D. R., & Ocko, I. B. (2023). Future warming from global food consumption. Nature Climate Change, 13(3), 297–302. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01605-8

But what do we mean when we say “CO₂ equivalent”? In this case, emissions are measured in Carbon Dioxide Equivalents. Since not every greenhouse gas emitted is CO₂ (e.g. methane from cows), researchers use equivalents to standardize how much warming each gas causes over a 100 year period. For example, over one century, methane has around 25 times the global warming of CO₂ per kilogram, 1 kg of methane equals 28 kg of CO₂.

While improvements in farming practices can reduce some emissions, most emissions from animal agriculture are unavoidable, and are built into the system itself [5]. For instance, high land use and the inefficiency of feeding animals 2/3 of global crops are intrinsic to a farming system that is keeping up with high demand for animal products.

The takeaway: plant-based diets use fewer resources

Despite common misconceptions, plant-based diets consistently come out ahead environmentally.

Research shows that plant-based diets are associated with:

  • Lower greenhouse gas emissions
  • Reduced land use
  • Less biodiversity loss

In fact, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that a global shift to a vegan diet could reduce food-related emissions by nearly two-thirds—equivalent to about 15% of all global emissions [2].

Even smaller shifts matter. In Canada, simply moving protein intake from a 65:35 animal-to-plant ratio to 50:50 could reduce diet-related greenhouse gas emissions by 18–27% [2].

This change is already happening

There’s good news: dietary shifts are already underway.

In the United States, food-related greenhouse gas emissions dropped 35% between 2003 and 2018, with more than half of that reduction coming from decreased beef consumption [7].

In Canada, red meat intake declined from 53.5 g/day in 2004 [8] to 41.4 g/day in 2015 [9].

These trends show that change doesn’t require perfection, it happens through gradual, collective shifts.

What this looks like for you

You don’t have to overhaul your entire diet to have an impact—small changes can add up to make a big difference!

Research focused on British Columbia shows that reducing beef consumption has the single biggest climate impact. In fact:

  • Cutting beef intake by just 25% has the same emissions benefit as eliminating all chicken and pork [10].
  • Replacing beef with lentils could save more than 1,000 kg of CO₂ equivalents per year for the average Lower Mainland resident [10].
  • Swapping beef for plant-based meals once a week for a year can cut emissions comparable to 560 kilometres of driving[10] . That’s the same as a road trip from Vancouver to Portland!
  • The impacts are most significant when swapping animal-based foods for whole food options like lentils, rather than processed items like plant-based cheeses. 

Why pulses are a climate win

Pulses (lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas) are one of the most climate-friendly foods available.

They:

  • Emit dramatically fewer greenhouse gases than beef [3]
  • Use far less land [11] and water [12]
  • Draw nitrogen from the air naturally, rather than relying on emissions-producing fertilizers and improving soil health [13]
  • Are affordable, filling, and nutrient-dense

They’re also incredibly versatile! From lentil Bolognese and bean tacos to curries, soups, and chili, pulses make up an important part of delicious, filling, and protein-rich meals.

Discover plant-based recipes

Check out PlantUniversity’s recipe library for tons of delicious recipes to get you started on your plant-based journey.

Recipe library

In summary

The environmental impact of our food system is massive, but so is the opportunity for change.

Plant-based eating isn’t about being perfect, and it’s not about judgement. It’s about recognizing that every meal is a chance to reduce emissions, protect ecosystems, and support a more sustainable future.

Small, intentional swaps (especially replacing beef with plant-based foods) can have big benefits for the planet.

As researchers put it plainly: our food choices are one of the most accessible and effective climate actions available to us today.

Tight budget, busy schedule, or eating at a dining hall? Check out PlantUniversity.ca or our Instagram below for recipes, resources, and tools to help you get started!

References

  1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre, & International Energy Agency. (2024). GHG emissions of all world countries. Publications Office of the European Union. https://doi.org/10.2760/4002897
  2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022). Climate change and land: An IPCC special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems (1st ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157988
  3. Environmental Impacts of Food Data Explorer. (n.d.). Our World in Data. Retrieved October 22, 2025, from https://ourworldindata.org/explorers/food-footprints?country=Beef+%28beef+herd%29~Tofu+%28soybeans%29~Other+Pulses&hideControls=false&Commodity+or+Specific+Food+Product=Commodity&Environmental+Impact=Carbon+footprint&Kilogram+%2F+Protein+%2F+Calories=Per+100+grams+of+protein&By+stage+of+supply+chain=false
  4. Technology Networks. (2024, December 17). Animal products use more energy than they deliver. https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/animal-products-use-more-energy-than-they-deliver-394386
  5. Ivanovich, C. C., Sun, T., Gordon, D. R., & Ocko, I. B. (2023). Future warming from global food consumption. Nature Climate Change, 13(3), 297–302. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01605-8
  6. Topcu, B., Kirkpatrick, S. I., Wood, M. O., & Dias, G. M. (2025). Life cycle climate impacts of eating patterns of Canadian provinces: Focus on meat and protein intake. Journal of Cleaner Production, 525, 146520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146520
  7. Bassi, C., Maysels, R., & Anex, R. (2022). Declining greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. diet (2003–2018): Drivers and demographic trends. Journal of Cleaner Production, 351, 131465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131465
  8. Statistics Canada. (2004). Canadian Community Health Survey. Government of Canada.
  9. Statistics Canada. (2015). Canadian Community Health Survey. Government of Canada.
  10. Watson, K. (2023). A transition towards plant-based diets: A study amongst B.C. residents in the Lower Mainland. Vancouver Humane Society. https://plantuniversity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Final-VHS-Report-Plant-Based-Diets-.pdf
  11. Land use per kilogram of food product. (n.d.). Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/land-use-per-kg-poore
  12. Water Footprint Calculator. (2017). Water Footprint of Food Guide. Water Footprint Calculator. https://watercalculator.org/water-footprint-of-food-guide/
  13. Pulses & Sustainable Food – Pulses. (n.d.). Pulses.org. https://pulses.org/future-of-food/pulses-sustainable-food

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Why nutrient concerns around plant-based diets are overblown

Thinking about trying plant-based eating, but worried it’ll be too complicated? You’re not alone – and new research says that worry might be overblown. 

Drs. Matthew Nagra and David Goldman seek to dispel the common belief that plant-based eating is unique in requiring thoughtful planning to be healthy.  

With growing awareness about sustainability and animal welfare, more students are exploring plant-based eating, but outdated myths about nutrient adequacy persist. 

New research shows that all diets require mindful planning to be healthy – not just plant-based ones. 

Read the research

Do vegans need to work harder to plan their diets?

“Dietary guidelines and health communications frequently include the caveat that vegetarian and vegan diets must be ‘carefully planned’ to be nutritionally adequate and promote favorable health outcomes,” the doctors write.

It’s something almost everyone hears when they think about going plant-based: ‘But will you get enough nutrients?’

People often cite iron and B12 as nutrients of concern for these diets. This is absolutely true – but nutrients that require particular attention are not at all exclusive to vegan and vegetarian diets.

Clearing up plant-based myths

Despite the overwhelming evidence that diets rich in whole plant foods lead to positive health outcomes, myths about this diet persist. Let’s talk about them!

10 facts

The takeaway: All diets need planning

“Papers that address healthy eating in the general population, which usually follows an omnivorous diet, are not framed to require careful planning,” the researchers explain.

Omnivorous diets often lack critical nutrients that are integral to our health.

Nutrients to watch for on an omnivore (plant- & animal-based) diet

The researchers found that omnivorous diets frequently lacked the following nutrients:

  • Fibre
  • Vitamin E
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium

Nutrients to watch for on a plant-based diet

Whereas vegan and vegetarian diets commonly lacked the following:

  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin D
  • Calcium
  • Iodine

The researchers suggest that this misconception “may unintentionally stigmatize” vegan and vegetarian diets, which is particularly concerning due to the strong argument towards more plant-based eating for health outcomes.

10 tips for starting a plant-based diet

Learn how to plan your meals and meet your nutrition goals from a registerd dietitian.

Get started

Stigma may worsen health

“Consensus among national nutrition and dietetic associations indicates that vegetarian and vegan diets are effective strategies for improving health,” the researchers explain.

They highlight that vegan and vegetarian diets are inversely associated with some of the most common and severe negative health outcomes humans face.

Research shows plant-based diets can decrease the risk of:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Certain cancers

These are all shown to have a negative correlation with vegan and vegetarian diets.

This showcases how important it is to dispel misunderstandings that might push people away from these diets, and “promote complacency toward nutrient-poor omnivorous diets,” they explain.

Plant-based for your health

A growing body of scientific studies contrast health outcomes of meat-inclusive and plant-based diets.

More on health

In summary

Vegan and vegetarian diets offer a variety of important benefits for the environment, animal welfare, and our health. Drs. Nagra and Goldman don’t want you to be afraid of these diets any more than you would an omnivorous diet.

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, ensuring you get the right nutrients doesn’t have to be complicated. Making sure to include B12-fortified foods or supplements, and a mix of whole grains and legumes, covers most needs.

The researchers summarize it best: “Forethought is a universal requirement for achieving nutritional adequacy and reducing chronic disease risk.”

So, if you’re looking to try more plant-based eating, you can do it with confidence. For more resources, follow PlantUniversity.ca on Instagram!

Discover plant-based recipes

Check out PlantUniversity’s recipe library for tons of delicious recipes to get you started on your plant-based journey.

Recipe library

Plant-based food: Is it healthy for us and the planet?

Plant-based food: Is it healthy for us and the planet?

The Vancouver Humane Society’s Chantelle Archambault recently appeared as a speaker at UBC Robson Square Theatre for an exciting discussion about plant-based food, “Can healthier diets help our planet?”

The event was moderated by Professor Charlyn Black of the UBC School of Population & Public Health, and also featured speakers Michael Klaper of Moving Medicine Forward, Navin Ramankutty of the UBC Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, and Jade Dittaro of the UBC Family Practice Training Sites.

Presentations mention the following resources:

Introduction by Charlyn Black

Plant-based foods & health with Michael Klaper

Plant-based foods & the environment with Navin Ramankutty

Impacts of shifting to plant-based foods in the Lower Mainland with Chantelle Archambault

Intersections of planetary health and human health in education with Jade Dittaro

Panel discussion

21 day challenges:

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