Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Mitigation potential and global health impacts from emissions pricing of food commodities

Marco Springmann, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Sherman Robinson, Keith Wiebe, H. Charles J. Godfray, Mike Rayner, Peter Scarborough

Nature Climate Change · 2016

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Summary

This modelling study, published in Nature Climate Change, examines how carbon pricing and other emissions-based pricing schemes applied to food commodities might reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions whilst simultaneously affecting human health outcomes globally. The analysis, conducted by researchers at Oxford and other institutions, suggests that food pricing policies designed to mitigate climate emissions could yield significant health co-benefits through shifts in dietary patterns, though effects are likely to vary substantially by geography and socioeconomic context. The work integrates climate mitigation, food systems modelling, and epidemiological assessment to explore policy synergies and trade-offs.

UK applicability

The findings are relevant to UK climate and food policy frameworks, particularly as the UK develops carbon pricing mechanisms and nutrition policy post-Brexit. However, the global scope means region-specific modelling would be needed to determine precise applicability to British dietary patterns, food production systems, and health burdens.

Key measures

Greenhouse gas emissions reductions; changes in food consumption and dietary composition; diet-attributable mortality and morbidity; health impacts by region and income level

Outcomes reported

The study modelled the effects of carbon pricing and other emissions pricing mechanisms applied to food commodities on global greenhouse gas emissions, food consumption patterns, and diet-related health outcomes. It projected mitigation potential and health co-benefits or trade-offs from such policies across different regions and income groups.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Research
Study design
Policy modelling / Simulation study
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1038/nclimate3155
Catalogue ID
BFmovi2bj3-9d7kpc

Topic tags

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