Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Carbon pricing of food in Australia: an analysis of the health, environmental and public finance impacts

Marco Springmann, Gary Sacks, Jaithri Ananthapavan, Peter Scarborough

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health · 2018

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Summary

This study employed a coupled modelling framework integrating economic, environmental and health analyses to estimate the impacts of incorporating carbon dioxide equivalent pricing into food commodities in Australia. A $23/tCO2-eq carbon price applied to food was projected to prevent approximately 49,500 DALYs whilst reducing food-related emissions by 6% and generating $866 million in public revenue. The findings suggest that climate policies incorporating food-related greenhouse gas costs are compatible with public health objectives to reduce diet-related disease burden.

UK applicability

The methodological framework is directly transferable to UK food systems and policy contexts, particularly relevant to post-Brexit carbon pricing mechanisms and net-zero commitments. However, UK food consumption patterns, emission profiles by commodity, and price elasticities would differ from Australia and would require recalibration using domestic food and nutrition survey data.

Key measures

Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) avoided; food-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction (MtCO2-eq); tax revenue ($AUD); consumption-related changes in 11 disease states and 7 diet and weight-related risk factors

Outcomes reported

The study modelled the impact of a carbon price ($23/tCO2-eq) on food commodity prices, measuring changes in dietary consumption, disease burden (in DALYs), food-related greenhouse gas emissions, and tax revenues generated.

Theme
Policy, governance & rights
Subject
Climate & greenhouse gas mitigation
Study type
Policy
Study design
Policy modelling study using coupled economic, environmental and health frameworks
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Australia
System type
Food supply chain
DOI
10.1111/1753-6405.12830
Catalogue ID
MGmowskc05-3l4ypv

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