The Climate Diet: 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint

by Paul Greenberg

A celebrated writer on food and sustainability offers fifty straightforward, impactful rules for climate-friendly living

We all understand just how dire the circumstances facing our planet are and that we all need to do our part to stem the tide of climate change. When we look in the mirror, we can admit that we desperately need to go on a climate diet. But the task of cutting down our carbon emissions feels overwhelming and the discipline required hard to summon. With The Climate Diet, award-winning food and environmental writer Paul Greenberg offers us the practical, accessible guide we all need. It contains fifty achievable steps we can take to live our daily lives in a way that's friendlier to the planet--from what we eat, how we live at home, how we travel, and how we lobby businesses and elected officials to do the right thing. Chock-full of simple yet revelatory guidance, The Climate Diet empowers us to cast aside feelings of helplessness and start making positive changes for the good of our planet.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Environment, Climate Change, Self Help, Audiobook, Food

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 13, 2021

About the author

Paul Greenberg is the New York Times bestselling author of Four Fish, American Catch, The Omega Principle and Goodbye Phone, Hello World. A regular contributor to the Times and many other publications, Mr. Greenberg is the winner of a James Beard Award for Writing and Literature, a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and the writer-in-residence at the Safina Center. He has been featured on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, TED and PBS's Frontline.

Reviews

[jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

offers very practical advice, such as: don't have kids, don't have pets, live in the city, don't travel abroad...

okay, but seriously, there was a sprinkling of good advice (like fight for racial justice, encourage your financial institutions to divest from fossil fuels, advocate in your town council or apartment building or pta) but there was an awfully lot of bad advice (see above, and see also: carrots apparently create the least emissions, so eat carrots, I guess).

i feel like this book should have been a blog post or an internet article. which btw would have created fewer emissions than printing off thousands of copies of a paperback.

[Tabatha (tab.talks.books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOKSTAGRAM | BOOK BLOG | AMAZON

Not the most exciting book I’ve read about climate change. A lot of the 50 tips weren’t really realistic—like going off the grid with your house, or living in the city where you can walk versus drive. It also talked about skipping beef, trying to just eat chicken, or better yet eat anchovies or lentils LOL. It also talked about how a medium sized dog holds a 19% “carbon paw print” which was kind of alarming—so ditch the pet! And only have 2.1 kids because anything more puts a strain on your carbon footprint. All very logical things but some are just not realistic.

[Kristen Iworsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tip 51- use both sides of the paper.

[Eduardo Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading, with notebook nearby to jot down ideas. No matter who we are, how eco-conscious, there's always a bit more we can do for our next step; something we haven't thought about. This is a nice little booklet to skim, then pass along to a caring friend.

Yes, it seems wasteful to issue this in printed form — but I think it's less overwhelming this way, as something to flip through instead of a large wall of online text. It's a calculated gamble.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it is--a short pamphlet preaching to the converted--it does its job. I learned something about mussels.

[Kristen Morse · Rating 3 out of 5]

The climate diet Greenberg proposes is simple and very possible. The content is good, but it reads like an online blog, it’s actually more like 50 pages long if that (half the book is empty pages) for $13. You would probably have more luck googling what you can do to reduce your carbon emissions.

This book sounds like it came from a good place and I don’t want to turn away anyone interested in improving their carbon footprint. Perhaps rent this one from the library?

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

What feeble, centrist, nonsense. Like who was this written for? Are you seriously giving stock trading advice and telling me to opt for the "low class" seats on airplanes? No radical suggestions whatsoever. There are even several whole blank pages between points. I thought we were supposed to be a friend to the trees? I'm so tired. 😒

[Wendelle]

1. the book's rule of thumb on CO2 emissions: lamb> beef > pork> farmed salmon> chicken > tuna > flounder and flatfish > shrimp in mangroves forests > cod and trawled finfish > wild salmon >sardines and small fish >yogurt > tofu > lentil > mussels (!)
2. buy frozen not fresh coz fresh is airlifted in a very fuel-wasteful manner

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the simple structure of the book with lots of ideas to lessen your carbon footprint. Ideas were written very succinctly with additional resources in the back. Several ideas I would be able to implement.

However, lots of the suggestions seemed unrealistic. Only things I would do if my goal in life was to be lonely and unhappy (like don’t have pets, don’t have kids, don’t leave the house, don’t go on vacation, only eat lentils and carrots). Doesn’t sound like things I will implement.

[Meagann · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2.5/5)
This was not what I was expecting. However, I think this could be a great starting point for someone who is just getting started in their own sustainability journey.

For one, this should have been an online article, blogpost or printed for free because the knowledge inside should not cost $13.00 as the majority of reviews have all agreed. In order to get people to become "greener" you can't bare the information behind a paywall because how else will they learn if no one in their life is on this path.

Next, I think this book hits on a lot of really good topics that the reader may not be aware of. Climate change and our carbon footprint is more than what we eat and if we drive cars; it is also where our money is stored, what products we buy, who we elect, etc. Now doing all 50 things is quite a stretch for one person but I think it was more so to give a list of ideas and from that list pick some you could start with.

What I wish this book could have been was longer. I wish the author expanded more on each topic and provided more information and context to each topic. As an environmentalist myself I knew about each topic so I really didn't gain much unfortunately, but for the average reader or the reader wanting to make a change there were a lot of key information left out that I think would be beneficial in this little book. Now I don't think this book was meant to be all end all, but more of a starting off point but more information would be crucial.

Lastly, a lot of the structure and organization in the small sections were sloppy and poorly worded with a lack of direction in some cases. I found the tone to be more conversational than professional which enhance the book.

Overall, if you are interested in reading the book I would pick it up from the library and not spend your money on it. I know they wasted resources to print this book to tell you what better books could tell you.

[Lemondrop Booktalks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was a quick read that was well researched and extremely insightful! I loved how this book gave varying ways one can change their life to help reduce carbon emissions. It was well organized with, as it says, 50 simple changes one can make to improve the world. I found this novel to be a great reference source! It is not the novel you go to to dive deep in climate change and why the world is how it is today, but it is a great read for if you want some hope and to feel like an active part in healing our Earth. There was even a section devoted to influencing politics and companies, which was nice since that is a huge part to helping clean our Earth and making life more sustainable!

I loved the extra resources in the back and also how the author laid out all his sources and references. It felt like a well researched work and I appreciated it. While there will be a bias and obviously missing information because it is short, I felt like it was mostly clear cut and honest. It gave great suggestions with research to back them up. The shortness was nice so that a massive amount of people can read and understand this without being bogged down by jargon.

I recommend to everyone. It can help you find ways to go greener no matter where you are in you sustainability journey.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Earth Day!!

1. Ease up on meat and cheese :)
- Beef can cost the planet more than 27kg of C02 omissions per kg of meat.
- Americans typically overeat protein by 30%
- USDA recommends 90g of protein for men and 60g for women, less than 1 McDonald’s small hamburger
- Only excess carbohydrates and fats can be stored in the body, excess protein gets pissed away, literally

5. Be a picky plant eater.
- Although Beyond and Impossible patties have about half the carbon footprint of chicken but they’re about 5x as omission intense as a simple bean patty.

13. Drink from the tap.
- The average American drinks about 42 gallons of bottled water every year. Spending about 18 billion dollars annually or something like $50 a person annually.

It’s a painful truth, the single most powerful way Americans can reduce their carbon footprint is by creating fewer Americans.
A child born in America this year will generate 16 tons of C02 per year for the rest of their lives and then have their own 16 tons children

17: Make a different kind of family plan.
- Adopt or foster

22. Educate your thermostat
- Get a smart thermostat that will anticipate your energy needs

25. Dress carbon-light
One cotton shirt drinks up 2,700 liters of water.

26. Turn your backyard into a sink.
Half an acre of lawn converted to forest and allowed to grow into a tree will sequester more C02 than a car omits in a year.

29. If you own a car, make it a better commuter.
- Correct tire inflation can improve your mileage from 2% to 8%
- Keeping your car tuned up can get you another 4% in mileage

32. Business class is too expensive for the environment
- 2 1/2 to 3 times the omissions impact as a seat in economy

33. If you have to drive, drive electric.
- Charging a car with electricity costs about a dollar a gallon equivalent.

49. Focus on the goal rather than the difficulties.
- Being difficult is difficult but the payoff is a better climate for us all.

Resources:
Test your tap water: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.p...

Find out how shitty the stuff you put on your skin is: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Glyphosate reports:
- https://ceh.org/latest/press-releases...
- https://ceh.org/wp-content/uploads/20...

This website scores politicians by how much they give a shit about the environment by their previous votes on environmental issues that have come up: https://scorecard.lcv.org/

A bank that cares about the environment: https://www.amalgamatedbank.com/

Are your savings going toward fossil fuels?: https://fossilfreefunds.org/

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciated the simple, straightforward steps outlined in this book but wondered why it was printed. Since it took no more than hour for me to read the whole book, I was left wondering about whether an article may be a better format for this. There are some helpful resources in here but making it a living resource rather than a book would have been more helpful. I’d like to see something like this laid out in stages to make it less overwhelming especially for those reluctant to make personal changes, with interactive resources and visuals.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous little book with very concrete ideas on how each of us can trim our carbon footprint. And good list of resources at the end. Highly recommended

I read it in May 2021. Not putting it in my stats, as I skipped some pages not relevant to my case.
I only count in my stats books where I read absolutely every word from A to Z

[Carsyn! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good tips, but I felt like it wasn't super applicable to me (a young adut living in university housing). Also, the part where Greenberg says that I should take a serious pause before having children... I laughed. I know kids are carbon-expensive, but that statement...? Crazy.

[Michael Erickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that I unexpectedly read in one sitting. If you're even remotely aware about the climate movement, nothing in here will be new, but it does read like an inoffensive way to dip your toe into thinking about making lifestyle choices. This isn't a maximalist, "go 100% vegan immediately and sell your car for a bike" approach that would turn away 90% of Americans, but more a series of gentle suggestions that won't be terribly inconvenient but would be ultimately beneficial if everyone followed. Consider this more of a stocking stuffer pamphlet for the green-curious and less of a shout-it-from-the-rooftops manifesto for green living.

[Sarahschenckfilms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Greenberg has a knack for demystifying complex subjects. This book is will help you change the world for the better without driving yourself crazy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The resources section is helpful but the book itself was uninspiring.

NPR's Lifekit has a series of podcast episodes that I have found are much more engaging, https://www.npr.org/series/1050034945... .

[abby jones]

Good place to start for anyone wanting to be more sustainable and explains why certain things are better for the environment/have a lower carbon footprint

[Sara Holland Levin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Offered some decent advice, though the fat phobic diet language at the beginning was weird and unnecessary. A quick read with some good ideas, but extreme suggestions like “don’t have kids” are just not realistic; certainly not in a country where you can be forced to become a parent.

[Megan McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was OK, but as others have noted, some of Greenberg's "simple" solutions to the climate crisis like don't have kids, ditch pets, don't fly business class, and go off the grid are a little weird. Some are quite basic and helpful, like covering pans when you're heating water, planting trees in your yard, etc. But he could also have noted really core practices like using libraries for nearly everything, carpooling when you can if you don't have public transport, and learning crafts like sewing to extend the life of your clothing.
Having lived through the 70s, I've heard almost all of these (that don't rely on new technology) before.
An quick read. Take it out of your library.

[Ty Sorensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Greenberg’s “The Climate Diet 50 Simple Ways to Trim Your Carbon Footprint” provides excellent insight for decreasing one’s contribution to climate change for those with little background knowledge on the topic. However, if you’re already familiar with climate change mitigation strategies, this book is unlikely to provide you with new and unique ideas. While Greenberg provides numerous statistics and interesting facts throughout the book, many of his solutions lack ingenuity. For instance, to decrease emissions resulting from the heating or cooling one’s home, Greenberg suggests simply turning down the thermostat during the winter or purchasing an extremely expensive heat pump. Although Greenberg proves that these solutions can be effective in decreasing personal emissions, these ideas lack creativity. While reading this section I found myself wondering why Greenberg did not introduce unique suggestions such as planting deciduous trees around one’s home, an easy and effective way of reducing carbon emissions associated with residential climate control as the leaves of deciduous trees provide shade during the summer (reducing the need for air conditioning) while the branches and trunk of the trees act as wind barriers during the winter (reducing the home’s heat loss), all while sequestering carbon as the trees grow. I personally would have found this book much more captivating had Greenberg provided more nuanced and creative ideas like the one suggested above.

While some solutions lacked originality, others lacked sufficient explanation. For example, Greenberg suggests purchasing frozen food on the basis that it is often transported by ship. While he justifies this solution by explaining that ships produce less emissions than planes or trucks, he does not discuss the emissions resulting from the energy needed to power the freezers that are likely required to keep the food frozen. As he does not appear to account for the energy required to power freezers, I found myself wondering if buying frozen food was truly as beneficial as he suggests. Does purchasing frozen food really reduce emissions overall if that same food spends weeks or months in freezers during transport, in warehouses or supermarkets? If Greenberg would have provided greater analysis, I do not believe I would have been left with questions such as this one.

As the purpose of this book is clearly to increase sustainable practices, it is rather ironic that the physical copy of the book appears to be produced in a manner that does not contribute to sustainability. This is exhibited by the fact that the Penguin edition of the book provides no indication that it is printed on recycled paper or that the paper is produced from sustainably harvested trees. Additionally, the layout is a wasteful way to use paper as the book contains 47 blank pages (approximately 1/3 of its total length). I hope that the publisher (or the author) will take notice of this oversight and pursue a “simple way to trim” their carbon footprint by printing future copies of this book in a more sustainable manner.

[˗ˋˏ nikki ˎˊ˗ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. You'll likely find more information in a handful of YouTube videos. The format of this 'book' aka extended list-icle was somewhat silly. And for the most part, I've heard it all before. Maybe I'm too advanced the my climate journey than the intended reader, but this really only added slight nuance to one or two concepts, was a rehash of many things I've known already, or in some instances was far too generic and not actionable. The most valuable piece were the resources section which were just dumped in the back. Skip to that, or read a couple of Buzzfeed articles. This was reductive at best.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just wasn't very helpful or practical. Like yeah, I know I'll cut down on my carbon emissions if I install solar panels and get rid of my oil furnace, but I don't have that kind of money? Also telling me to stick to coach seats on airplanes as though I could afford anything else and then, to top it all off, ending the book by saying not to blame the poor for not being more sustainable? Sorry I'm not rich enough to read your book I guess.

[Erica Cirino · Rating 5 out of 5]

In THE CLIMATE DIET, Paul Greenberg provides fresh, actionable suggestions most of us can incorporate into our lives to shrink our carbon footprints. Full of easily digestible facts and figures, and an endless array of helpful ideas, the CLIMATE DIET is a nearly pocket-sized manual for living more sustainably in a warming world.

[Santosh Shetty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping to extract more than a few ways. First set of rules are great and seems a lot of thought went into them towards the second half the solutions were just lazy. It is a very short book - probably like 45 mins but it could've had the desired actionable punch.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so cute and good. making my friends and family read it asap. only critique is that it didn’t go in depth enough but given the simplicity at focus it’s kind of better that way. the brevity definitely got me to finish it so quickly and feel better about how i’m gonna shove it down everyone’s throat in the next couple weeks :)

here are my notes from my notes app
climate diet
- plant a tree when you die
- family tradition
- lamb and beef are highest emissions
- opt for frozen food
- local food is good…sometimes because if you use a heat lamp to grow it in the winter it’s more emissions than if you shipped it from cali
- take more direct flights.
- buy produce with no packaging
- about 3 billion trees are cut down each year for amazon and other online retailers
- contributions to a college fund are emissions free :) rather than gifts
- have less kids
- supply follows demand
- small fish ftw. sub oysters for shrimp
- community solar power, sometimes it’s subsidized
- turn down thermostat at night
- line dry clothes when possible
- thrift thrift thrift thrift thrift
- push at the local level, even school board
- imagine kirkwood with LEDs or renewable energy
- invest wisely and vote out board members if you own publicly traded stock
- when trees hit 75 to 100 years age they enter their midlife growth spurt. from age 50 to 150 years eastern pine can go from storing 20 lbs of carbon to over 70. many stated mandate cutting trees on state land before they reach this :(
- league if conservation voters keeps a rally on how politicians truly act
- cdp carbon disclosure project
- “breakfast comes before ethics” don’t blame the poor for these issues and look for ways that the solution can economically support disadvantaged groups
- “make your life your argument” show don’t tell

- [ ] warch the lorax again





reasons i’m not vegan reasons to be vegan
i’m going abroad better for the environment
it’s expensive to prove that i can
it requires more planning veganism is the future
i don’t like food waste to identify with and commit to something i care about
filipino food find creative recipes
support food science evolution

ya lol this book made me wanna go vegan again hmm lolz

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

One simple way to trim your carbon footprint: don’t buy this book. (A second way: don’t write and publish the equivalent of a listicle as a print book.)

This book includes most of the basic ways to reduce your carbon footprint that have been circulating online and in print for years—some more practical/realistic than others. Plant trees, eat less meat, go electric … don’t have kids or pets, don’t fly, tell your boss you’d rather continue working from home, etc., etc. I’m sure there are some people out there who don’t know about these options, but as Greenberg writes in the introduction, “If you’ve picked up this book, you’re probably of the ‘do something’ variety” and can anticipate most of his suggestions.

Greenberg’s book is written with little regard for race, class, or gender. Only one of the 50 suggestions directly references race. Class/socioeconomic status is mentioned briefly in the afterword, where Greenberg writes, “Don’t blame the poor and the powerless” for choosing to use their money elsewhere. (So apparently he doesn’t expect “the poor and the powerless” to even pick up his book, let alone be concerned about climate change.) Greenberg is clearly writing for a white, middle-to-upper class audience. His major blind spots, in addition to his lazy comparisons between carbon footprints/obesity and reducing footprints/diets, makes this book a pretty pointless addition to climate literature.

Save yourself some money and reduce your impact on the climate: google “how to reduce my carbon footprint” or borrow this book from your library and plant a tree instead.

[Knittyb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I think the overall message is good. Some of the points are novel to books in this genre (like changing your banking and insurance practices). A lot of the advice is sound and does a good job of focusing on the ‘big’ contributions to your carbon footprint.

If I have to read one more book about sustainability that ignores disabled people, I’m going to scream. Twenty-six percent of Americans identify as disabled. Your solution for transportation CANNOT BE walking and biking everywhere. Not to forget about the 20% of the US that live in rural areas. One of the fifty ways to trim your carbon footprint in this book is literally “make if for everyone”. I guess just not for disabled or rural people. We have got to get better at sustainable transportation solutions for everyone