Producing 100 grams of protein from beef emits around 50 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents.45 Then we have lamb, at around 20 kilograms. Then dairy, then pork, followed by chicken. You will notice here a clear ranking of animal foods: from the biggest animal (cows) to the smallest (chickens, then fish). Chapter 5 will look at why. Most plant-based foods – soy, peas, beans, lentils, cereals, nuts – lie at the bottom of the list. They have a much lower carbon footprint than animal-based products.
