Earth Day Network (EDN) and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) are hosted a panel discussion to release a new research report titled: Climate Change and the American Diet.
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American consumers are hungry for more climate-friendly plant-based diets, but they need more information, according to results from a national survey released last Thursday, February 13th by Earth Day Network (EDN) and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
(YPCCC).
The report, titled “Climate Change and the American Diet,” found that half (51%) of Americans
surveyed said that they would eat more plant-based foods if they had more information about the environmental impacts of their food choices. However, 70% rarely or never talk about this issue with friends or family. Nearly two-thirds of the Americans surveyed report having never been asked to eat more plant-based foods, and more than half rarely or never hear about the topic in the media.
However, the report found that more than half of Americans are willing to eat more vegetables
and plant-based alternatives and/or less red meat. Additionally, consumers are already changing their diets and purchasing habits in favor of plant-based foods.
“This data is a wake-up call for the climate movement,” said Jillian Semaan, Food and
Environment Director, Earth Day Network. “Animal agriculture is one of the major drivers of
our climate crisis, we need to provide people with the relevant information that connects food
choices, animal agriculture, and climate change.’
Although four percent of Americans self-identify as vegan or vegetarian, 20% choose plant-based dairy alternatives about two to five times a week or more often. Roughly the same percentage choose not to buy products from food companies that are not taking steps to reduce their environmental impact.
“Many American consumers are interested in eating a more healthy and climate-friendly diet,” said Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University. “However, many simply don’t know yet which products are better or worse —a huge communication opportunity for food producers, distributors, and sellers.”
Additional Barriers to Climate-Healthy Diets: Cost, Taste and Accessibility
Americans identified other barriers to eating more plant-based foods, including perceived cost,
taste and accessibility. About half (49%) of Americans think a meal with a plant-based main
course is more expensive than a meal with a meat-based main course.
The research, a nationally representative survey of 1,043 American adults, also showed that
Americans would eat more plant-based foods if they cost less than meat options (63%) and if
they tasted better (67%). Barriers of cost and access, including distance from grocery stores and access to fresh produce, impact lower-income households in particular.
These and other findings come from a nationally representative survey conducted by the Yale
Program on Climate Change Communication and Earth Day Network. The survey of 1,043
American adults (18+), was conducted in December 2019 on the Ipsos KnowledgePanel. The
research was funded by Earth Day Network as part of its Foodprints for the Future campaign.
In addition to Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, principal investigators included Drs. Seth Rosenthal
(Yale) and Matthew Ballew (Yale), and Jillian Semaan (Earth Day Network).
