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Columnist and Environment

Eating green means considering biodiversity as well as climate change

I thought my Mediterranean-style diet was helping the planet, but while it has reduced my carbon footprint, it is harming Earth's biodiversity, finds Graham Lawton

By Graham Lawton

15 June 2022

Summer aperitif with group of friends Joy and festivities in family Eavening with friend dinner on the terrace enjoying together. View from above of a table with many foods Happy hands taking viands; Shutterstock ID 1431755720; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

Fabio Principe/Shutterstock

I HAVE been writing a lot about food recently, from the perspective of both human and planetary health and longevity. Happily, those two goals are often in harmony – in a nutshell, eat less meat and other animal products – which gives me a healthy inner glow topped with a green halo. I stopped eating the flesh of mammals and birds a few years ago and largely stick to a Mediterranean-style diet, which involves eating more fruit, vegetables and whole grains.

But as I found out recently to my dismay, I may have to relinquish that halo. Like many environmentally conscious eaters,…

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