Issue #30: Power to the people
Our Top Stories
Climate impact labels reduce red meat consumption: A new study led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that the inclusion of climate impact labels on a fast food menu significantly influenced people’s food choices in favour of more climate-friendly items, such as vegetarian, chicken, or fish dishes, Earth reports. In an investigation with over 5,000 participants, labels on red meat items that warned of the high climate impact, led to a 23% increase in alternative choices. This study has added evidence to the pool of knowledge that climate impact labels do indeed influence consumers into choosing more sustainable food options. [Earth]
Carbon credits are crucial: A new global survey of more than 500 business leaders, coordinated by Conservation International, has revealed that 51% of businesses feel that carbon credits will enable them to mitigate the worst effects of climate change this decade and reduce emissions in the long-term. Meanwhile, 89% of respondents regard carbon credits as holding an important part in decarbonisation efforts. This strong belief that businesses have in carbon credits, and their ability to offset operating emissions, emphasises the vital role they’ll play in corporate net zero strategies. Caution does however need to be given to the quality of the credits, to avoid valid accusations of greenwashing. [Edie]
The quest for zero deforestation: Vox sheds light on the benefits that will arise from the European Union’s new law to prevent companies from selling beef, coffee, and a handful of other commodities in the EU if they’re grown on land where forests were recently cleared. With agriculture causing nearly two-thirds of all deforestation worldwide, the EU is leading the way by saying that products that drive forest loss are no longer acceptable, and voluntary corporate pledges to eliminate deforestation are no longer sufficient. Although the new law may be hard to enforce, it is a great starting point to shift the commodity market to one with zero deforestation. [Vox]
The plastic pollution lawsuit: Three environmental groups - ClientEarth, Surfrider Foundation Europe and Zero Waste France - are filing a lawsuit against the French multinational Danone over its global plastic pollution, according to Food Navigator. The groups argue that Danone is not doing enough to reduce its global plastic footprint and is failing to live up to its lawful duties. Danone, which owns well-known brands such as Evian, Volvic and Activia, insists that it is committed to curbing the problem of plastic pollution. However, 2023 so far has seen many countries implement new plastic pollution laws, including England and Germany, with environmental groups taking it upon themselves to hold polluting businesses to a much higher standard than ever before. [Food Navigator]
Research Corner
A lifeline for corals: Tomás López-Londo?o and his team have found that the clarity of surface water affects coral reef degradation, due to the level of sunlight that can penetrate the water. Their investigation found that underwater light intensity plays a critical role in the energy expended by the coral's symbiotic algae to maintain its photosynthetic activity. The coral is dependent on the algae as a food source, so the higher the light intensity, the greater the chance of the coral’s survival. As coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth, this may be an important discovery to help protect and stabilise these specialised ecosystems around the world. [Nature]
Stat Attack
“The Climate Change Committee, an official body which advises the Government, has recommended a 20% reduction in meat and dairy consumption by 2030, and a 35% reduction in meat consumption by 2050, eating better meat and plant-based alternatives.”
Source: The CCC
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The Big Picture
About Reewild
The food and agriculture industry is at the heart of the climate crisis, generating around a third of man-made greenhouse emissions. And while the challenge of reducing its impact may seem beyond our grasp, it is one that we all have the power to tackle.
We believe that the solution lies in climate transparency. That’s why we’re equipping businesses with the means to evaluate and communicate the emissions of their products. This, in turn, means consumers are armed with credible, independent information, which can be used to make more sustainable choices.
We know that many people want to take climate action but lack the necessary tools and information to do so. We're confident that, armed with the right knowledge, everyone can and will do their bit to build a greener, more sustainable food system.
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