New data finds climate-friendly, healthy meals within reach for public schools

BERKELEY, CALIF. – A new case study is the first of its kind to use life-cycle assessment data to show how meat and cheese reduction in school food is an effective strategy for both mitigating climate change and serving affordable, healthy meals. Friends of the Earth partnered with Oakland CA Unified School District to document how a 30 percent reduction in meat, poultry and cheese purchases over two years shrank the school district’s carbon footprint by 14 percent. The study found that the district saved 42 million gallons of water annually, and captured $42,000 in cost savings which was used