Horizontal bar graph titled “Food: greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain.” The graph compares greenhouse gas emissions for different foods, measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO₂e) per kilogram of food. Foods are listed vertically, with beef from beef herds having the highest emissions at about 99 kg CO₂e per kg, followed by dark chocolate, lamb and mutton, beef from dairy herds, and coffee. Foods with the lowest emissions include peas, bananas, and tomatoes, each producing less than 3 kg CO₂e per kg. Each bar is divided into colored sections showing where emissions come from, including land use change, farming, animal feed, processing, transport, retail, packaging, and losses. The graph shows that for many foods, especially beef and lamb, most emissions come from farming and land use, while transport and packaging make up a much smaller portion.

Different foods produce different amounts of greenhouse gases as they are grown, processed, and transported. Animal-based foods often require more resources because animals must be fed, housed, and cared for over time. Some animals, such as cows and sheep, also release methane gas during digestion, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. In addition, clearing land to raise animals or grow animal feed can increase greenhouse gas emissions. Plant-based foods usually require fewer resources and produce fewer greenhouse gases because they grow directly from plants and do not require animal feed.

Question:
Based on the graph, which type of food generally produces more greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram: animal-based foods or plant-based foods?

 

How to Answer Using CER:

Claim
Write one clear sentence that answers the question.

Evidence
Use specific data from the graph to support your claim.
Include the names of at least two foods and their approximate greenhouse gas emissions values.

Reasoning
Explain why your evidence supports your claim.
Connect the type of food to information shown in the graph, such as methane production, land use change, or animal feed.

  1. Which food shown on the graph has the highest greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram?

  2. Which food shown on the graph has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram?

  3. How do greenhouse gas emissions from animal-based foods compare to plant-based foods overall? What pattern do you notice?

  4. For a food with high emissions, which part of the supply chain (such as farming, land use change, or transport) contributes the most to its total emissions?

  5. Based on the graph, what is one change a person could make to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from their food choices?

Embed This Graph

Copy and paste this code into your LMS or website (Canvas, Google Sites, etc.).

Source: Our World in Data (Opens in New Tab)