A recent survey conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Morning Consult reveals that 46% of Americans would consider adopting a plant-based diet to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to food production. The poll, which included responses from 2,203 US adults between March 24-26, 2025, found that 16% of respondents would “strongly consider” such a dietary change, while an additional 30% said they would “somewhat consider” it.
Environmental impact of food production
The survey results come as Earth Day approaches and coincide with growing concerns about the environmental impact of the food industry. Research from the United Nations has pointed to the significant role of food production, particularly livestock farming, in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
Beef, in particular, is noted as one of the highest emitters, with research indicating that it produces 70.6 kg of greenhouse gas per kilogram of food. Other animal-based products, like cheese, also contribute considerably to emissions, while plant-based foods, such as vegetables and tofu, have much lower environmental footprints.
“A plant-based diet is a win-win”
According to Roxanne Becker, MBChB, DipIBLM, a physician with the Physicians Committee, plant-based diets are beneficial not only for reducing greenhouse gases but also for improving human health by lowering the risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. “From cutting greenhouse gas emissions to cutting the risk of diet-related chronic diseases, a plant-based diet is a win-win,” Becker said.
Awareness gap on emissions
Despite this, over half of survey respondents (54%) admitted to being unaware of which foods are the primary contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of participants correctly identified beef as the largest contributor, but there was some confusion, with many respondents mistakenly ranking vegetables as a major emitter.
Support for policy change also emerged from the survey. 40% of respondents expressed support for taxing the meat and dairy industries based on their greenhouse gas emissions, similar to a policy set to be introduced in Denmark by 2030. Additionally, 59% of those surveyed agreed that the government should incentivize farmers to transition from animal agriculture to crop and orchard farming to help mitigate environmental damage.
When asked about federal food policy, 60% of Americans favored the inclusion of climate-related information in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which currently do not address the environmental impact of food choices. Research suggests that diets following a plant-based pattern, such as the Healthy Vegetarian Dietary Pattern recommended by the Dietary Guidelines, have a significantly smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional dietary recommendations that include animal products.
Generational divide on policies
The survey also revealed a clear generational divide, with younger adults and people from minority communities more likely to support policy changes related to food production and environmental sustainability. These groups were also more inclined to consider plant-based diets as a means of reducing their personal environmental impact.
While there is notable support for transitioning to plant-based diets and modifying agricultural practices, the concept of imposing taxes on meat and dairy industries remains more contentious. Many respondents expressed concern about the potential cost implications of such policies.
“This Earth Day—and every day—people should eat a plant-based diet to keep themselves and the planet healthy,” concluded Becker.
