Food carbon consumption in Beijing urban households

Abstract

This paper explores the environmental implications of food consumption, from the viewpoint of carbon consumption in Beijing urban households, considering the effects of increasing carbon flux on the environment and alterations in food systems in terms of the carbon cycle. The average food carbon consumption was calculated and analysed in terms of household socioeconomic variables. Several patterns of food carbon consumption with definite socioeconomic characteristics were identified. An average of 279.3 kg food carbon was consumed by households per annum, and was dominated by grain carbon (34.3%). The number of household members, average household age, proportion of male members, education and occupation influence total food carbon consumption of a household. Income influenced consumption of certain foods, thus causing differences in the structure of food carbon consumption. High food carbon consumption patterns tend to emerge in large-size, medium-age, high-male, high-income, medium-education families. Among these, households with a higher age and higher education level have a higher vegetarian carbon dietary pattern, while other households have a higher meat carbon dietary pattern.