More than Health: The Potential of the Mediterranean Diet in Contributing More Environmentally Friendly Dietary Practices in the Chinese Context

The Mediterranean diet is widely acknowledged for its positive health effects and environmental sustainability. This thesis aims to explore the practical implications of adopting the Mediterranean diet in China to mitigate the environmental impact of the food system, specifically in relation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study begins with an analysis of food consumption trends in China spanning the years 1990 to 2020, utilizing data from the FAO food balance sheet. Next, it estimates the GHG emissions associated with the two dietary patterns by combining an analysis of the standard Mediterranean diet with contemporary Chinese dietary patterns for the reference year of 2020. For calculation, the carbon intensity data are obtained from the multilevel database, SU-EATABLE LIFE, which utilizes a standardized approach to extract information from 841 publications and assign optimal carbon footprint values and uncertainties. The findings of the study reveal that recent dietary trends in China have shown an increase in energy intake, red meat, and refined rice consumption, accompanied by a decrease in coarse grain consumption. The GHG emissions associated with the modern Chinese diet amount to 1397 kg CO2eq·person−1·year−1, which is nearly double the emissions from the standard Mediterranean diet pattern, which amounts to 685 kg CO2eq·person−1·year−1. Based on the data and literature sources, if carefully considering socioeconomic factors, the Mediterranean diet can be a helpful reference for China when it comes to sustainable dietary transition.