Abstract for: From Awareness to Action: Exploring How Shifting Diets Can Help Mitigate Climate Change

The study investigates the awareness of how individual dietary choices relate to climate change and get examples of how diets that are better for the planet are emerging in different areas of the globe as a path forward. We developed a dynamic hypothesis of the interaction between climate change and dietary changes. We focused on awareness of the impacts of meat consumption on environment, health, and animal welfare. Awareness can impact the cultural preference for meat consumption. We found that this is consistent with the Dynamic Model of Moralized Social Change (Judge et al., 2024). We show evidence of progress along the moral change continuum. Europe leads in plant-based diet adoption with strong policies and consumer shifts, while North America shows growing awareness but faces industry resistance. Regions like the Netherlands and California are nearing tipping points, with plant-based norms becoming mainstream. However, no major region has fully abandoned meat, though parts of Europe and urban North America are moving in that direction. A significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is essential for achieving short-term climate impact. Raising awareness through targeted resource allocation can help drive this change. Examining other studies and behavioral change initiatives may offer valuable insights. Increasing awareness of the climate impact of beef consumption can encourage behavioral shifts. Targeting regions with high beef consumption and/or production could be more effective, especially by counteracting policy and lobbying efforts. For spelling, grammar and syntax review.