The global and regional air quality impacts of dietary change

Marco Springmann (), Rita Dingenen, Toon Vandyck, Catharina Latka, Peter Witzke and Adrian Leip
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Marco Springmann: University of Oxford
Rita Dingenen: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Toon Vandyck: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Catharina Latka: University of Bonn
Peter Witzke: University of Bonn
Adrian Leip: Bioeconomy and Food Systems Unit

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Air pollution increases cardiovascular and respiratory-disease risk, and reduces cognitive and physical performance. Food production, especially of animal products, is a major source of methane and ammonia emissions which contribute to air pollution through the formation of particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Here we show that dietary changes towards more plant-based flexitarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets could lead to meaningful reductions in air pollution with health and economic benefits. Using systems models, we estimated reductions in premature mortality of 108,000-236,000 (3-6%) globally, including 20,000-44,000 (9-21%) in Europe, 14,000-21,000 (12-18%) in North America, and 49,000-121,000 (4-10%) in Eastern Asia. We also estimated greater productivity, increasing economic output by USD 0.6-1.3 trillion (0.5-1.1%). Our findings suggest that incentivising dietary changes towards more plant-based diets could be a valuable mitigation strategy for reducing ambient air pollution and the associated health and economic impacts, especially in regions with intensive agriculture and high population density.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41789-3

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