The Hidden Climate Cost of Food: Why One Health Matters for India’s Future

The Hidden Climate Cost of Food: Why One Health Matters for India‘s Future

TANUZ KALITA

Climate change is not only powered by what we burn, it is also shaped by what we eat. Across the world, food systems are transforming landscapes, consuming natural resources, and generating emissions on a scale that is often overlooked in public debates.

While energy and transport dominate climate discussions, growing attention is being paid to the environmental footprint of meat and dairy production and the role food systems play in shaping a more sustainable future. The links between climate and food systems are becoming increasingly visible.

During recent heatwaves across India, dairy farmers reported falling milk yields and rising livestock stress as temperatures soared, highlighting how climate change is already affecting food production, animal health, and rural livelihoods. As countries search for pathways to reduce emissions while building resilience, food systems are emerging as a critical part of the climate conversation. This is particularly relevant for countries such as India, where food, livelihoods, culture, and climate are deeply intertwined.

The Climate Cost of Meat and Dairy

A landmark study published in Nature Food estimated that food systems account for approximately 34%  Within this, animal-based foods contribute significantly more emissions than plant-based foods due to methane released by cattle, manure management, feed production, and land-use change. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),30% of global warming since pre-industrial times, making livestock emissions a critical part of climate mitigation efforts.

The environmental impacts extend beyond emissions alone. Livestock production occupies nearly 80% of global agricultural land when grazing areas and feed production are combined. As demand for meat and dairy increases, forests, grasslands, . This contributes  to greenhouse gas emissions and also to biodiversity loss, water stress, and declining ecosystem resilience.

India occupies a unique position

While meat consumption in India remains relatively low compared to many high-income countries, India is the world’s largest producer of milk and home to more than 300 million cattle and buffaloes. Livestock-related methane emissions

According to India’s submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), agriculture contributes around 14% of national greenhouse gas emissions, with enteric fermentation from livestock accounting for a major share of agricultural methane. As India experiences more frequent heatwaves, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing climate vulnerability, food systems must become part of the climate conversation. Reducing emissions is not simply about energy transitions or industrial reform. It also requires examining how food is produced, consumed, and supported through public policy.

One Health and the Case for Sustainable Food Systems

The challenges associated with food systems are not limited to climate change. They are closely linked to public health, ecosystem health, animal welfare, and economic resilience. This interconnectedness lies at the heart of the One Health approach, which recognises that the health of people, animals, and the environment cannot be separated.

Environmental degradation affects agricultural productivity, water quality, and biodiversity, often creating cascading impacts across food systems. In aquaculture, poor water quality can increase stress and disease among fish, resulting in lower productivity, higher mortality, and economic losses for farmers.

Evidence from Madhya Pradesh has also highlighted how climate-related stressors such as invasive aquatic weeds and recurring algal blooms can contribute to declining pond health, affecting both ecosystems and livelihoods. Poor animal health can increase disease risks, while unsustainable food systems can contribute to malnutrition, pollution, and wider public health challenges. Addressing any one of these issues without considering the others often results in fragmented and ineffective solutions, as the wellbeing of people, animals, and ecosystems is closely intertwined.

A One Health perspective encourages a more holistic approach. Rather than treating climate change, food security, public health, and animal welfare as separate policy areas, it recognises that progress in one area often depends on progress in another. This approach is increasingly relevant in India, where climate impacts, agricultural livelihoods, nutritional challenges, and environmental pressures intersect.

Sustainable and plant-rich diets form an important part of the One Health vision. Foods such as pulses, legumes, vegetables, grains, and millets generally require fewer resources and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than animal-based products. These foods are already deeply rooted in India’s culinary traditions. From dal and khichdi to millet-based dishes and seasonal vegetable preparations, many traditional diets reflect principles of sustainability.

Supporting climate-resilient crops such as millets, promoting diversified agriculture, and strengthening local food systems can simultaneously contribute to environmental sustainability, public health, and rural livelihoods. Such measures align closely with One Health principles by recognising the interconnected wellbeing of people, animals, and ecosystems.

From Evidence to Policy: How Samayu is Driving Change

Meaningful transformation depends on policies, institutions, and governance systems that recognise the connections between climate change, public health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Through its One Health One Welfare (OHOW) approach, Samayu has demonstrated how evidence generated at the community level can inform governance and policy processes.

In Madhya Pradesh, the programme combined farmer training, field pilots, applied research, and policy engagement to address challenges related to fish welfare, water quality, and aquaculture management. Across seven community ponds in Balaghat district, farmers were supported to monitor pond conditions and adopt improved management practices, contributing to measurable improvements in water quality and welfare outcomes for an estimated 1.54 million farmed fish. The initiative also engaged more than 775 farmers across five districts, helping build practical skills in disease prevention, water-quality management, and welfare-friendly aquaculture practices.

The experience highlights an important lesson for India’s climate future: sustainable food systems cannot be achieved through isolated interventions. They require integrated approaches that recognise the interconnected wellbeing of people, animals, and ecosystems.

As India seeks pathways towards climate resilience and sustainable development, the One Health framework offers a practical foundation for building food systems that are healthier, more equitable, and environmentally sustainable. By connecting scientific evidence, local knowledge, and policy action, such approaches can help create lasting change across both communities and ecosystems.

Importantly, the work extended beyond field implementation. Evidence generated through community engagement and NITI Panchayats informed discussions with government stakeholders and contributed to Madhya Pradesh’s first statewide fisheries directive embedding One Health principles. The project also secured formal associate collaborator status with the MP Fisheries Directorate, creating opportunities for continued engagement on fisheries governance and welfare issues. Together, these efforts demonstrate how locally generated evidence can support policy development while strengthening outcomes for communities, animals, and ecosystems.

Sources

• Crippa et al. (2021), Food Systems Are Responsible for a Third of Global Anthropogenic GHG Emissions, Nature Food.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Global Methane Assessment (2021).
• India’s Third Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC.
• World Resources Institute (WRI), Creating a Sustainable Food Future (2019).
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change and Land (2019).
• World Health Organization (WHO), One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026).
• Samayu, Balaghat Initiative Impact Report: One Health One Welfare Framework for Sustainable Aquaculture Governance in Madhya Pradesh.

Tanuz Kalita is a wildlife conservationist and anthropologist with over six years of experience working across the Eastern Himalaya and Indonesia. He has been a Fellow with the National Youth Climate Consortium and Yuwaah–India, and a delegate at LCOY and COY 2025. He currently consults on grassroots climate action and impact assessment, researches indigenous knowledge systems, and serves as a Storyteller Fellow in the Barak–Meghna River Basin with IUCN. His research focuses on the intersection of indigenous knowledge, climate action, and governance in Asia

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