Climate protection at the dining table

Global warming is happening, that is no longer a secret. Our consumer behaviour, mobility and housing are the main triggers for the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which are causing the temperature to rise. The average Swiss person leads a very generous life in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. If the emissions of all people in the world were this high, we would need almost three planets. Scientists are sounding the alarm and warning of dangerous global warming. It seems that this warning is being heard by children and young people in particular. Climate Youth is active worldwide and is campaigning against climate change and in favour of a healthier and greener planet.

Meat - the greatest evil

The fact is that more than two thirds of greenhouse gas emissions caused by food are attributable to animal products. On the one hand, the amount of land used for livestock farming is considerable, while on the other hand, all the feed cultivation for the animals consumes an enormous amount of space, water and energy. The increasing space that is needed is usually gained at the expense of valuable rainforest and biodiverse green spaces, which in turn poses a threat to the climate.

If your son or daughter wants to consume fewer animal products, you as parents may be called upon, especially if the majority of meals are still eaten or prepared at home. Plan fixed meat-free days of the week. Start with one and, if you like it and it tastes good, increase it to several days a week. On average, a meat menu has three times more impact on the environment than a vegetarian menu. A vegan menu does even better. It's also worth trying out the many different vegan alternatives to milk, yoghurt and cream. You will be amazed at how similar some of the products taste.

Cream can be replaced with soya cream. If you now think that soya products are also harmful to the environment, as valuable land has to be used to grow soya - that's true. However, the soya produced is not primarily intended for human consumption, but is used as animal feed. Human soya consumption accounts for a fraction of total soya cultivation.

Is seasonal and regional always better?

Start with small steps

Last in the chain are we consumers, who also dispose of a large proportion of food. This happens because we buy too much, shop unplanned without checking the fridge beforehand or overestimate our hunger and cook too much. Flexible menu plans and shopping lists shorten your time in the supermarket and ensure that nothing or less unnecessary food is bought. Leftovers can usually be easily frozen or reheated the next day.

There are many different ways to eat in a more climate-friendly way. In most cases, our eating habits are so familiar that it is difficult to make lasting changes. Start with small steps and let your climate children and young people infect you with their euphoria and belief in change.

Exciting facts

• Four-fifths of Switzerland's water consumption is used outside the country. This is in countries that already suffer from water shortages, e.g. in Spain for irrigating tomatoes.
• It takes 17 times more water to produce one kilogramme of beef than one kilogramme of maize.
• Only 34 out of every 100 potatoes harvested are eaten, the rest are discarded.
• We produce 92 kilograms of food waste per capita every year.
• The environmental impact of food waste in Switzerland corresponds to 50 percent of the environmental impact of motorised private transport.