The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) new report, Eating for Net Zero, suggests that a healthy, sustainable diet could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 36 per cent and biodiversity loss by 20 per cent compared to the average UK diet. The report suggests small shifts in British eating habits could result in huge wins for our health, wallets and the planet without giving up meat and dairy. The plan includes 69 per cent less meat, 25 per cent less dairy, and 32 per cent less eggs, but 83 per cent more ‘lower-footprint seafood’ such as mussels and sardines, a 50 per cent boost in beans and pulses, and 45 per cent more fruit and veg.

Currently, 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from food production. Over-reliance on meat and intensive farming practices are taking a heavy toll on soil health and biodiversity. However, the WWF says that we can eat our way towards a healthier planet with a few simple dietary changes. Besides the gains to planetary health, mass adoption of the recommendations would ease the burden on the NHS, which currently spends £6bn on diet-related illness and obesity, while also enabling the shift to nature-positive farming.

The report suggests that achieving a healthy, sustainable diet is possible without everyone having to go vegetarian or vegan. It starts with a rethink of government dietary guidelines, combined with committed example-setting through public procurement of quality, sustainable foods for schools, hospitals, care homes and other public institutions.