Plant-Based Diets and Climate Change, A Perspective for Infectious Disease Providers

Global climate change driven by human activity is a pressing concern. Recent medical literature highlights the negative consequences of climate change on human health, including changing patterns and rising rates of global infectious diseases. Livestock production and animal agriculture are large contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and rising rates of antimicrobial resistance are propagated by antibiotic use in livestock feed. Despite this, the global demand for animal-based food production continues to rapidly grow. Furthermore, meat consumption is linked to negative health consequences while plant-based diets provide health benefits that are endorsed by multiple medical associations as part of a healthy lifestyle. Health care providers, including infectious diseases physicians, are in a privileged position to provide dietary counseling. This review advocates for the adoption of plant-based diets as a dual strategy to combat climate change and improve health outcomes, particularly in the context of infectious diseases.