Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys
IntroductionDiet contributes substantially to one’s carbon footprint. Climate impact of diet varies between certain sociodemographic groups, but no studies have comprehensively compared the climate impact of diet between sociodemographic groups and regions in Finland. Aims of this study were to comp...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1543646/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850219213849886720 |
|---|---|
| author | Laura Sares-Jäske Tommi Härkänen Heli Tapanainen Merja Saarinen Jani Salminen Liisa Valsta Laura Paalanen |
| author_facet | Laura Sares-Jäske Tommi Härkänen Heli Tapanainen Merja Saarinen Jani Salminen Liisa Valsta Laura Paalanen |
| author_sort | Laura Sares-Jäske |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDiet contributes substantially to one’s carbon footprint. Climate impact of diet varies between certain sociodemographic groups, but no studies have comprehensively compared the climate impact of diet between sociodemographic groups and regions in Finland. Aims of this study were to compare absolute and energy-adjusted dietary climate impacts between sociodemographic groups and to illustrate their regional distributions on maps.MethodsThe FinHealth 2017 Study data (n = 5,123) comprising individuals aged 18–99 years, and additionally for the spatial analyses, FINRISK 2012 and Health 2011 survey data were utilized (combined n = 14,692). Dietary intake information was collected using validated food frequency questionnaires. Products’ climate impacts, produced with the life cycle assessment, were linked to the ingredient groups used in food consumption data, and individual-level climate impacts/day [kg CO2 equivalents (eq)/day and kg CO2 eq/megajoule/day] were estimated. Statistical analyses for maps were based on 10×10 km square data and on spatial Besag-York-Mollie model. Linear regression model was used to study differences between sociodemographic groups.Results and discussionMen had higher absolute and energy-adjusted dietary climate impacts than women did. In women and in men, the climate impacts were the highest in the 35–54-year-olds, and those living with underage children, and the lowest in the 75–99-year-olds and those living alone. Women living in remote rural areas, and men in the highest income quintile had high dietary climate impacts. On maps, the climate impacts were low in southern Finland near the capital region. Higher levels appeared in men especially in parts of central Finland. Results of absolute and energy-adjusted climate impacts showed mainly similar patterns. Information on the differences between sociodemographic groups can be used when targeting policies concerning transition towards more climate-friendly diets to sociodemographic groups with high dietary climate impacts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb750b3ea00147a08fd7aed0aae87ba9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb750b3ea00147a08fd7aed0aae87ba92025-08-20T02:07:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-06-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15436461543646Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveysLaura Sares-Jäske0Tommi Härkänen1Heli Tapanainen2Merja Saarinen3Jani Salminen4Liisa Valsta5Laura Paalanen6Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandNatural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, FinlandIntroductionDiet contributes substantially to one’s carbon footprint. Climate impact of diet varies between certain sociodemographic groups, but no studies have comprehensively compared the climate impact of diet between sociodemographic groups and regions in Finland. Aims of this study were to compare absolute and energy-adjusted dietary climate impacts between sociodemographic groups and to illustrate their regional distributions on maps.MethodsThe FinHealth 2017 Study data (n = 5,123) comprising individuals aged 18–99 years, and additionally for the spatial analyses, FINRISK 2012 and Health 2011 survey data were utilized (combined n = 14,692). Dietary intake information was collected using validated food frequency questionnaires. Products’ climate impacts, produced with the life cycle assessment, were linked to the ingredient groups used in food consumption data, and individual-level climate impacts/day [kg CO2 equivalents (eq)/day and kg CO2 eq/megajoule/day] were estimated. Statistical analyses for maps were based on 10×10 km square data and on spatial Besag-York-Mollie model. Linear regression model was used to study differences between sociodemographic groups.Results and discussionMen had higher absolute and energy-adjusted dietary climate impacts than women did. In women and in men, the climate impacts were the highest in the 35–54-year-olds, and those living with underage children, and the lowest in the 75–99-year-olds and those living alone. Women living in remote rural areas, and men in the highest income quintile had high dietary climate impacts. On maps, the climate impacts were low in southern Finland near the capital region. Higher levels appeared in men especially in parts of central Finland. Results of absolute and energy-adjusted climate impacts showed mainly similar patterns. Information on the differences between sociodemographic groups can be used when targeting policies concerning transition towards more climate-friendly diets to sociodemographic groups with high dietary climate impacts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1543646/fullclimate impact of dietgreenhouse gas emissionssociodemographic differencesregional distributionsdistribution map |
| spellingShingle | Laura Sares-Jäske Tommi Härkänen Heli Tapanainen Merja Saarinen Jani Salminen Liisa Valsta Laura Paalanen Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems climate impact of diet greenhouse gas emissions sociodemographic differences regional distributions distribution map |
| title | Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys |
| title_full | Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys |
| title_fullStr | Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys |
| title_short | Sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact: findings from Finnish population surveys |
| title_sort | sociodemographic and regional differences in dietary climate impact findings from finnish population surveys |
| topic | climate impact of diet greenhouse gas emissions sociodemographic differences regional distributions distribution map |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1543646/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laurasaresjaske sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys AT tommiharkanen sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys AT helitapanainen sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys AT merjasaarinen sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys AT janisalminen sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys AT liisavalsta sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys AT laurapaalanen sociodemographicandregionaldifferencesindietaryclimateimpactfindingsfromfinnishpopulationsurveys |