Agrifood Economics

Valuation of the health and climate-change benefits of healthy diets

Background paper for The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 – FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 20-03
Year: 2020
Author(s): Springmann, M.
Publisher: FAO

The health and environmental consequences of our dietary choices impose costs on society that are currently not reflected in the price of those foods or diets that contribute to these detrimental impacts. This paper provides updated estimates of two major cost items: the healthcare-related costs associated with unhealthy diets, and the climate-change costs associated with the emissions attributable to diets and food production. Results suggest that the health and climate-change costs of current diets are substantial and projected to increase up to 1.3-1.7 trillion USD annually by 2030.

Theme: Climate
Publication type: Working paper
Region: Global
ISBN: 978-92-5-133523-9
ISSN: 2521-1838
JEL codes: Q11, Q52, Q54, Q56