Climate change is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. In order to mitigate health consequences of climate change, there is another approach besides adaptation (= reactive adaptation): mitigation, i.e. proactive reduction of global warming through preventive measures.

Effective approaches that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions include reducing motorized transportation as well as reducing meat consumption. Livestock, especially ruminants (e.g. cattle, sheep), contribute significantly to emissions of methane, a highly climate-damaging gas [1]. Modelling studies suggest that greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by at least 30 %, if less amounts of meat were eaten population-wide, and if motorized transportation was replaced by active transportation (bicycling, walking) [2].

Reducing meat consumption and increasing active transportation can also be beneficial for health, so these climate-friendly behaviours also have "health co-benefits" [3]. High consumption of red meat or highly processed meat is associated with increased risk of mortality [4, 5]. Specifically, highly processed meat is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and various malignancies [4-7]. Regular physical activity may reduce the risk of malignancy and cardiovascular disease [8, 9]. Regular cycling may also help to reduce stress [10].

Currently, however, we know little about how many people are aware of the link between their own physical activity and diet on the one hand and climate change on the other hand. Neither do we know people’s attitudes toward the issue, and the motivations that (might) drive them to engage in active transportation and meat reduction. Furthermore, it is unclear whether knowledge about the climate relevance of these behavioural patterns could motivate people to exercise more and consume less meat. The HeraCliP PhD project addresses these questions by (a) performing a scoping review, and (b) analysing various population-based data.

First results: With the current data of the representative survey "Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell" (German Health Update, GEDA 2021) the prevalence of active transport in Germany and major motives for active transport can be determined. The decision to use active transport usually involves several motives. 68 % of participants who use active transport at least once per week mention "To protect the environment and climate" as a motive to do so [11].

The results were presented at the 2022 annual conference of the German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP Jahrestagung 2022).

Duration: 01.01.2022 - 31.12.2024

Funding: Robert Koch Institute (RKI)

Contact person: Ramona Moosburger

Literature

1. Westhoek, H., Lesschen, J.P., Rood, T. et al., Food choices, health and environment: Effects of cutting Europe's meat and dairy intake. Global Environmental Change 2014. 26: p. 196-205.
2. Chevance, G., Fresán, U., Hekler, E.B. et al., Thinking health-related behaviors in a climate change context: A narrative review. Preprint · March 2021.
3. Milner, J., Hamilton, I., Woodcock, J. et al., Health benefits of policies to reduce carbon emissions. BMJ, 2020. 368: p. l6758.
4. Pan, A., Sun, Q., Bernstein, A.M. et al., Red meat consumption and mortality: results from 2 prospective cohort studies. Archives of internal medicine, 2012. 172(7): p. 555-563.
5. Rohrmann, S., Overvad, K., Bueno-de-Mesquita, H.B. et al., Meat consumption and mortality - results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. BMC Medicine, 2013. 11(1): p. 63.
6. Micha, R., Wallace, S.K. and Mozaffarian, D., Red and processed meat consumption and risk of incident coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation, 2010. 121(21): p. 2271-83.
7. Boada, L.D., Henríquez-Hernández, L.A. and Luzardo, O.P., The impact of red and processed meat consumption on cancer and other health outcomes: Epidemiological evidences. Food Chem Toxicol, 2016. 92: p. 236-44.
8. Wahid, A., Manek, N., Nichols, M. et al., Quantifying the Association Between Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Heart Assoc, 2016. 5(9).
9. Kyu, H.H., Bachman, V.F., Alexander, L.T. et al., Physical activity and risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and ischemic stroke events: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Bmj, 2016. 354: p. i3857.
10. Avila-Palencia, I., de Nazelle, A., Cole-Hunter, T. et al., The relationship between bicycle commuting and perceived stress: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 2017. 7(6): p. e013542.
11. Moosburger, R., Manz, K., Richter, A. et al., Gesundheit und Klimaschutz sind Motive für das aktive Zurücklegen von Wegstrecken: Ergebnisse einer bundesweiten Erhebung (Abstract). Gesundheitswesen 2022; 84(08/09): 832
    DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1753889