How to eat within the planet’s boundaries - Study summary

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Mia

Study summary outlining how everyday eating habits shape climate outcomes, land-use footprints, water demand, and biodiversity. It connects global agriculture-driven pressures—deforestation, greenhouse-gas emissions, and freshwater withdrawals—to food consumption patterns and explains why dietary shifts are a high-leverage lever for both planetary protection and personal health. The summary also frames implications for policymakers, businesses, and consumers with practical, action-oriented recommendations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Our eating habits have a tremendous impact on our planet

Adjusting our future land use footprint

Our nutrition’s climate impact

Water use, water scarcity, and droughts

Our eating habits threaten global biodiversity

Conclusion

How policymakers can promote healthy nutrition for a healthy planet

What businesses and the economy can do

Recommendations for consumers

How to eat within the planet’s boundaries Study summary Further reading: The project “Besseresser:innen – planetarisch-kulinarisch”, a culinary compass for a healthy planet, outlines a viable and sustainable future for our nutrition (website in German) [wwf.de/besseresserinnen](wwf.de/besseresserinnen) Weekly meal planner & recipes (in German) [wwf.de/wochenmenue](wwf.de/wochenmenue) So schmeckt Zukunft: Der kulinarische Kompass für eine gesunde Erde. Klimaschutz, landwirtschaftliche Fläche und natürliche Lebensräume. (The taste of the future – culinary compass for a healthy planet. Climate protection, agricultural land use, and natural habitats.) [wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-klima](wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-klima) (full report, PDF in German) [wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-klima-zusammenfassung](wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-klima-zusammenfassung) (summarized report, PDF in German) So schmeckt Zukunft: Der kulinarische Kompass für eine gesunde Erde. Wasserverbrauch und Wasserknappheit. (The taste of the future – culinary compass for a healthy planet. Water withdrawal and water scarcity.) [wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-wasser](wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-wasser) (full report, PDF in German) [wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-wasser-zusammenfassung](wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-wasser-zusammenfassung) (summarized report, PDF in German) So schmeckt Zukunft: Der kulinarische Kompass für eine gesunde Erde. Ernährung und biologische Vielfalt [wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-biodiversitaet](wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-biodiversitaet) (full report, PDF in German) [wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-biodiversitaet-zusammenfassung](wwf.de/kulinarische-kompass-biodiversitaet-zusammenfassung) (summarized report, PDF in German) So schmeckt Zukunft: Gesunde Ernährung für eine gesunde Erde. (The taste of the future – culinary compass for a healthy planet.) Position paper (in German) [wwf.de/so-schmeckt-zukunft](wwf.de/so-schmeckt-zukunft) So schmeckt Zukunft: Die Proteinfrage. Von pflanzlichen Alternativen bis hin zu Insekten. (The taste of the future – the protein question. From plant-based alternatives to insects) [wwf.de/proteinfrage](wwf.de/proteinfrage) (website in German) Info graphics (in German) [wwf.de/das-essen-von-morgen](wwf.de/das-essen-von-morgen) Published by Date Project coordinators Authors Contact Editor Layout Production Cover image WWF Germany November 2022 Tanja Dräger de Teran, Rebekka Adkins, Silke Oppermann (WWF Germany) Tanja Dräger de Teran (WWF Germany), Frank Brendel [landwirtschaft@wwf.de](landwirtschaft@wwf.de) Thomas Köberich (WWF Germany) Anita Drbohlav, [www.paneemadesign.com](www.paneemadesign.com) Maro Ballach (WWF Germany) iStock/Getty Images Based on the life cycle assessment study by Dr. Ulrike Eberle & Nico Mumm, corsus – corporate sustainability GmbH, Hamburg (Germany) in cooperation with Dr. Toni Meier, Institut für Nachhaltige Land-und Ernährungswirtschaft e. V., Halle/Saale. This publication is a summary of the studies listed above. It does not include source citations. For complete citations please refer to the full reports. Data in charts and illustration may be rounded. © 2022 WWF Deutschland, Berlin, Germany. Reprint or republication of this material or parts thereof is only permissible with the consent of the copyright holder. TABLE OF CONTENT Our eating habits have a tremendous impact on our planet 4 Adjusting our future land use footprint 8 Our nutrition’s climate impact 13 Water use, water scarcity, and droughts 18 Our eating habits threaten global biodiversity 24 Conclusion 30 How policymakers can promote healthy nutrition for a healthy planet 32 What businesses and the economy can do 35 Recommendations for consumers 39 Our eating habits have a tremendous impact on our planet In view of the climate crisis, many of us are looking to change our behavior in order to decrease our consumption of fossil fuels in every

FAQs

Why do the document’s authors emphasize eating habits as a major lever for climate and the environment?

They argue that, unlike many other behavior changes that require large investments or have limited options for renters, eating habits offer significant influence. Dietary changes can protect climate and environment while supporting health without necessarily increasing living expenses.

What environmental impacts are linked to food production in the study summary?

The summary cites that agriculture uses over one third of habitable land and drives major pressures such as global deforestation, biodiversity loss, and freshwater withdrawals. It also states that a substantial share of greenhouse-gas emissions is linked to food production.

Who is the document’s guidance aimed at, and what is expected from each group?

It includes sections on how policymakers can promote healthy nutrition, what businesses and the economy can do, and recommendations for consumers. The intent is to coordinate actions across governance, market actors, and individual choices.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Mia