Carbon Footprint in Food!

Assalamu Alaikum!

To live, we need to eat! But the type of food we consume can also determine or measure whether each person is making a positive impact on this earth. Food is a part of our lifestyle. Locally produced food has a lower carbon footprint, while imported food has a higher amount of carbon dioxide.

To put it simply, getting local food to local consumers requires much less transportation and processing. On the other hand, imported food goes through processing in one country and then transportation by air or sea to another country, adding the carbon dioxide produced by the fuel of these vehicles to the food and eventually to the consumer’s life.

Now, let’s look at the amount of harmful gases released into the atmosphere from the production of different types of food, whether local or imported. First and foremost, cattle raised for meat production emit the highest levels of carbon dioxide and methane. The process of producing this food is closely tied to the release of methane, another harmful gas.

It’s worth noting that carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for over 100 years, or even longer, while methane lingers for 7 to 12 years. The carbon dioxide produced by our actions will remain on Earth even after we’re gone, just like plastic, which will stay for 100 years! These are our debts to the planet, which will remain even after we leave. Where do we find the time to repay these debts when we are so busy? Carbon dioxide and methane damage the layers of the atmosphere, allowing direct sunlight to reach the Earth without being filtered, leading to global warming, floods, droughts, and various natural disasters.

By looking at the image below, you can understand the amount of carbon and methane produced by different foods. Beef ranks first, followed by chocolate, coffee, and then shrimp, dairy, lamb, and cheese in descending order. All of these are considered luxury foods, aren’t they? On the other hand, vegetable-based foods produce very low levels of carbon dioxide and methane. This might explain the recent trend in developed countries towards becoming vegan or vegetarian to reduce the carbon footprint through food.

Injustice is committed not only by those who do wrong but also by those who tolerate it... You might think, "If the carbon and methane are produced during the production process, how does it affect me when I eat it?" But when we consume food that has polluted the Earth during its production, aren’t we becoming part of that pollution?

In the past, sages and monks, and today’s conscious individuals and the Western generation, have developed a trend of consuming fruits and vegetables. The reason? They want to be good people for the sake of the Earth.

And one more thing: In our society, there’s a saying that the poor will enter heaven 500 years before the rich. What do you think the reason is? Is it “prayers and fasting” or “lifestyle”?

Think about it—if you reduce the number of times you eat beef each month by even one meal or one day, would it contribute to your life and the Earth? It’s challenging to contribute without stepping out of your comfort zone, and without making sacrifices, it’s hard to become a “better version of yourself.”

Reference: Internet

Rehana Parveen

Sustainable Change Agent(SCA)

From Hamburg, Germany