EAT-Lancet 2.0 Report Advocates for Planetary Health Diet to Reduce Mortality and Environmental Impact

What's Happening?

The EAT-Lancet 2.0 report has been released, reaffirming the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) and incorporating updated evidence from experts across more than 30 countries. The report highlights that adherence to the PHD can lead to a 28% reduction in all-cause mortality, potentially preventing 15 million deaths. The diet emphasizes plant-based foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, while recommending moderate consumption of fish, dairy, and meat. The report also underscores the need for a two-thirds increase in the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, alongside a one-third reduction in livestock meat production compared to 2020 levels. The EAT-Lancet Commission, responsible for the report, aims to set science-based targets for healthy, fair, and sustainable food systems.

Why It's Important?

The adoption of the Planetary Health Diet is significant as it addresses both health and environmental concerns. By reducing the consumption of animal-sourced foods, the diet aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change impacts. The report suggests that transforming food systems could cut annual emissions by more than half compared to current trends. Additionally, the diet's focus on plant-based foods aligns with efforts to combat nutritional deficiencies and improve public health outcomes. The report also highlights the need for equitable resource distribution, as current food systems contribute to social and economic disparities, with a significant portion of food system workers earning below a living wage.

What's Next?

The EAT-Lancet 2.0 report calls for transformative changes in food systems, including policy reforms such as subsidy adjustments and taxes to make healthy food more affordable and accessible. The Commission plans to continue collaborating with communities to translate knowledge into actionable food system changes. The report emphasizes the importance of addressing power asymmetries and discriminatory structures that hinder justice and sustainability in food systems. As global temperatures rise, the report warns that food systems could exacerbate climate change, even with a transition away from fossil fuels, highlighting the urgency of implementing the recommended dietary shifts.

Beyond the Headlines

The EAT-Lancet 2.0 report delves into the ethical and social dimensions of food systems, advocating for justice across multiple dimensions, including distributive fairness and the recognition of marginalized communities. The report's emphasis on planetary boundaries underscores the interconnectedness of food systems with broader environmental challenges, such as biodiversity loss and water scarcity. By linking dietary choices to the Earth's safe operating space, the report encourages a holistic approach to sustainability that considers both human and planetary health.