Community connectedness and sustainable eating

Abstract

Climate change and resource depletion threaten both humanity and ecosystems. Reduction in meat consumption is a key sustainable action, and identifying its determinants can play a crucial role in shaping effective climate change strategies. This review explores how community connectedness can influence sustainable eating and identifies potential factors shaping this relationship. Research on sustainable eating mainly examines individual factors. However, meat consumption is deeply rooted in social and cultural contexts, making change difficult. Community connectedness may both promote and hinder sustainable eating by reinforcing local dietary traditions. Although community connectedness may encourage protection of local environments and pro-environmental behaviors such as local food consumption, it may also reinforce meat-heavy culinary traditions. Since meat consumption is embedded in cultural and historical traditions globally, a strong connection to one's community may hinder the adoption of more environmentally friendly diets - particularly when these traditions emphasize resource-heavy foods like meat. However, collective community efforts can promote sustainable diets: research indicates that strong community ties can support initiatives promoting plant-based diets with minimal animal products. Initiatives like community-based pledges, cooking courses, and community-supported agriculture can encourage plant-based diets, and foster long-term habits through education, socialization, and community-driven support. Empirical evidence also shows that the potential for community connectedness to promote sustainable eating might depend on intervening factors like environmental awareness and a broader sense of connection to nature. Future research should further explore how local and global connectedness shape sustainable eating and evaluate the effectiveness of community-based interventions aimed at promoting pro-environmental diets, to develop culturally appropriate strategies for sustainable eating.