Harvard Climate Action Week

According to the United Nations, “What we eat, and how that food is produced, affects our health but also the environment. Food needs to be grown and processed, transported, distributed, prepared, consumed, and sometimes disposed of. Each of these steps creates greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat and contribute to climate change. About a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to food.”  (Learn more: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/food)

How can you partner with HUDS to take action? Join us for a week of events in our residential dining halls and our professional school and campus cafes. Each day focuses on a different aspect of food and climate action:

1. MONDAY
   Eat More Plant-Based Foods: Shifting towards diets higher in plant-based foods (like fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans) and lower in animal-based foods significantly reduces your carbon footprint and conserves resources like land and water.
2. TUESDAY
   Buy Local and Seasonal Food: Sourcing food from local and seasonal producers reduces transportation emissions and supports local economies.
3. WEDNESDAY
   Choose Sustainable Seafood: Select seafood from fisheries or aquaculture operations that minimize environmental impact, prevent overfishing, and protect habitats.
4. THURSDAY
   Reduce Food Waste: A significant portion of food produced is lost or wasted. This wastes the resources used to produce, transport, and dispose of it. Preventing food waste in your daily meals is a powerful action you can take.
5. FRIDAY
   Avoid single-use dishware/cutlery/drinking vessels
6. SAT-SUN
   Compost