This study evaluates the unequal distribution of dietary emissions from 140 food products across 139 countries, using household expenditure data. Higher-expenditure consumer groups generally have higher dietary emissions due to increased red meat and dairy consumption, particularly in low-income countries. Worldwide adoption of the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet could reduce global annual dietary emissions by 17%, primarily due to shifts from red meat to legumes and nuts. Overconsuming populations could save 32.4% of global emissions, offsetting the 15.4% increase from currently underconsuming populations adopting healthier diets.

Yanxian Li, Pan He, Yuli Shan, Yu Li, Ye Hang, Shuai Shao, Franco Ruzzenenti, Klaus Hubacek