CSU Campus or Other Affiliation
California State University Northridge
Abstract
Although there is consensus in the need to address the causes of climate change, very little attention has been done to implementing large scale strategies to produce behavioral change in the community to reduce greenhouse emissions. We conducted a study among college students, to evaluate their behavioral change towards a plant based diet after reflecting in the environmental effect in greenhouse emissions of animal protein consumption. During a two weeks’ period participants were required to keep a diary of the food items and meat servings they consumed, and to calculate the carbon footprint of their diet. On the second week of the experiment participants were required to introduce for at least one meal a fully vegetarian option and calculate carbon footprint again. Participants were asked to reflect on the carbon impact of the alternative vegetarian option, recording their own personal feelings, believes and attitudes towards a meatless diet. Quantitative and qualitative analysis were used to assess participants’ consumption habits and their personal reactions towards a plant based diet. The results showed participants were surprised with their own carbon footprint from meat consumption, eagerness to decrease meat consumption during the second week, and a positive experience with the low-meat diet they consumed during the second week. The study concludes that in general meatless diets were accepted by the majority of participants after increasing their awareness of the environmental impacts that animal based protein has on global warming.
APA Citation
Giraldo, M. A.,
&
Aljersh, J.
(2025).
Behavioral Change Towards Meat Consumption To Address Climate Change.
CSU Journal of Sustainability and Climate Change, 4(1).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55671/2771-5582.1028