Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from food is an important part of implementing Carrboro's Community Climate Action Plan. From growing our food all the way to disposing of it, our food systems contribute a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2019, dietary emissions from Carrboro residents contributed the equivalent of over 17, 000 metric tons of C02 to the atmosphere (equal to the annual energy use of more than 2,140 homes). But there is a lot we can do to reduce our dietary carbon emissions and it doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite foods. It's all about choices.
On average, Carrboro residents eat 9.5 meals a week containing meat and almost 3 of those contain beef. If Carrboro residents switched one of their weekly meals from beef to chicken, that would save over 2,900 tons of CO2 annually.
Do you have a climate-friendly recipe you love and would like to share? We would love to incorporate it into the the first-ever Carrboro Community Cookbook. Here are some ideas about what makes a meal climate-friendly:
- Uses locally sourced ingredients
- A family favorite dish that substitutes beef with chicken or plant-based protein
- Uses organically produced meats, fruits and vegetables
- Your favorite vegetarian dish that your meat-loving friends are sure has meat in it
Please email your favorite recipe (and pictures, if you have any) to Laura Janway at ljanway@carrboronc.gov.