Exploring the effects of income on the environmental impact of household food consumption in the Philippines
Date
2023-07-04
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Abstract
Food consumption emerges as one of the most environmentally impactful activities
among households. This study examines the impact of income and location on the
environmental consequences of household food consumption in the Philippines. We
hypothesize that as income increases, households shift their preferences towards food
groups with higher environmental impact. Also, we expect significant differences in
food consumption patterns between rural and urban households, with urban areas
having a greater environmental impact. Using household-level data from the merged
2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey and Labor Force Survey (FIES-LFS), we
conducted OLS regression on household income and food-related CO2 emissions
(HFE) using carbon intensities provided by Serino & Klasen (2015). Our results
confirm a positive relationship between household income and food emissions,
indicating that as income rises, households tend to engage in less sustainable dietary
choices. Based on these findings, we provide policy recommendations to promote
sustainable food consumption, including adopting greener production processes,
implementing tax policies on certain discretionary food products, and providing
subsidies for healthy food alternatives. By implementing measures to encourage both
sustainable and healthy food choices, addressing knowledge gaps, and encouraging
more sustainable processes in food production, we can mitigate the environmental
impact of household food consumption and work towards a more sustainable future.
Description
Keywords
food consumption, carbon footprint, household