.jpg)
There are many ways to reduce embodied GHG emissions and GWP. We’ve outlined 10 of them below.
The Farm at Serenbe provides residents and nearby restaurants with local, organic produce. Photo courtesy of Serenbe
Studies suggest that global food transportation generates almost 20% of all food-related emissions, with produce transported by air freight being the worst offender. Sourcing food locally is one way to reduce these so-called “food mile” emissions while also supporting local businesses.
The Serenbe wellness neighborhood in Georgia, for example, is home to an organic farm that provides residents and local restaurants with fresh produce via a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm share program. CSA members are allowed to receive up to seven items (or approximately 5 to 10 servings of vegetables) each week during the growing season for only $20 to $30. Aside from reducing GWP, sourcing food from local farms also helps stimulate local economies and supports healthy community-building efforts.
Making changes to one’s diet can also help reduce GWP. Livestock like cows and other ruminants, for example, are a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas that is over 28 times as effective as CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Cutting down on meat and dairy consumption or adopting a wholly vegetarian lifestyle can reduce a person’s CO2e footprint by approximately 500 kilograms per year.