Abstract
Renewable gas has been proposed as a solution to decarbonise industrial processes, specifically heat demand. As part of this effort, the breast-milk substitutes industry is proposing to use renewable gas as a substitute for fossil natural gas. However, decarbonising the industrial processing of breast-milk substitutes can increase social license for these products, potentially undermining breastfeeding. World Health Organisation nutrition targets aim to increase exclusive breastfeeding to at least 50% globally by 2025 to improve maternal, infant, and young child health and nutrition. This target will have implications for the energy transition. A weakness of existing energy models is that demands for end-use products such as breast-milk substitutes are typically not considered explicitly. This paper develops an analytical framework for explicitly representing infant feeding methods in energy systems models. We compare the emissions saved in Ireland from decarbonising the industrial processing of breast-milk substitutes with renewable gas with the emissions saved by an increase in exclusive breastfeeding to 50% in both Ireland and a key export market, China. We demonstrate that the emissions saved from achieving the minimum global breastfeeding target are greater than when renewable gas is used to displace natural gas in the production of breast-milk substitutes in Ireland. We discuss the decarbonisation of breast-milk substitutes in relation to the principle of justice as non-maleficence, a principle based on the commitment to avoid harm, a novel application of a principle of justice. We conclude that breastfeeding support can be considered a demand-side measure for mitigating climate change by reducing the demand for energy services to produce breast-milk substitutes. A key recommendation is to position breastfeeding support as both a public health and a climate justice issue that is relevant for a just transition. The framework developed for this paper could be applied to support the inclusion of a wider range of mitigation options with social justice outcomes in energy system models.
Highlights
Breastfeeding is the biologically normal method of infant feeding which ensures optimal infant nourishment and development (Brown, 2018)
To make a credible claim of zero carbon pro cessing of breast-milk substitutes, a steady and reliable supply of renewable gas will need to be in place, with contracts to provide a guarantee of supply
The analysis in this paper finds that when decarbonising production of breast-milk substitutes in Ireland with renewable gas is compared with reaching World Health Organisation (WHO) minimum breastfeeding targets in key countries of consumption, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings are far greater when breast feeding targets are reached
Summary
Breastfeeding is the biologically normal method of infant feeding which ensures optimal infant nourishment and development (Brown, 2018). The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breast feeding (EBF), where an infant is only breastfed for the first 6 months, and continuing for a duration of two years for optimal infant health (WHO, 2020). Reasons for low breastfeeding rates are multi-faceted since breast feeding is a complex behaviour dependent on mother and infant indi vidual characteristics, public health systems, family, community and professional support and wider cultural values. Some of these factors are non-modifiable such as maternal age and socioeconomic status, but other factors may be modifiable such as self-efficacy, mode of birth, social and professional support. While breast-milk substitutes will remain a legitimate product, this paper is concerned additional demand that arises from aggressive marketing practices while support for mothers who do choose to breastfeed is low
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