A worldwide shift from current diets to the planetary health diet proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission would have direct implications for agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By modelling the trajectory of food from cradle-to-farm gate while accounting for international trade, we estimate that agricultural GHG emissions would decrease in countries as well as globally. Yet, in primarily low- and middle-income countries, agricultural GHG emissions would increase by 12-283%. Country-specific impacts of dietary transitions should be considered in climate change mitigation policy.
This brief demonstrates the importance of considering the impact of dietary shifts at country levels to accurately inform climate change mitigation policy and actions.