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The carbon cost of breakfast at COP26

Can a vegan croissant really be worse for the environment than a bacon roll? Tim Harford questions how the carbon cost of food is calculated.

A French minister told people to eat fewer croissants at this year’s COP26 summit, after the menu said the carbon cost of the pastry was higher than that of a bacon roll, even if it was made without butter. Tim Harford investigates whether this claim could be true, and how the effect of food on climate change can be measured.

(Photo: Continental breakfast with coffee and croissants: Cris Cantón/Getty Images)

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9 minutes

Last on

Mon 15 Nov 202110:50GMT
BBC World Service

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  • Sun 14 Nov 202114:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Sun 14 Nov 202123:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East Asia & South Asia
  • Mon 15 Nov 202103:50GMT
    BBC World Service South Asia & East Asia only
  • Mon 15 Nov 202110:50GMT
    BBC World Service

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