Stat: Plant-based food investment does more for the environment than renewable energy and EVs

Global – A September 2024 report by Tilt Collective and Systemiq reveals that investing in a plant-based food system results in substantially greater emissions reductions per dollar than in renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs). 

According to the findings, a  £747m ($1bn, €895m) investment in plant-based initiatives could mitigate 28m tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, significantly outpacing the 5m tonnes mitigated by renewables and 7m tonnes by EVs. 

Tilt Collective CEO Sarah Lake emphasised that ‘shifting to a plant-rich food system represents a spectacular pay-off as a climate investment’. The current agricultural model, which is predominantly reliant on livestock, is inefficient and a significant contributor to global emissions. 

The report urges governments and investors to consider the plant-based food industry as a viable, underfunded solution to climate change, highlighting that a transition would not only reduce emissions but also generate substantial health and economic benefits.

For more insights on what’s new and next for plant-based diets, head to our Adaptive Appetites macrotrend report.