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Leaders ignore animal agriculture's role in climate change at G7 and Bonn summit
World leaders failed to address the significant climate impact of animal agriculture during recent G7 and Bonn climate conferences, despite growing evidence of its environmental harm.
In short:
- The G7 summit and Bonn Climate Change Conference focused on financial debates, omitting discussions on the climate impact of animal agriculture.
- Animal agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, yet international talks rarely address it directly.
- The new Apulia Food Systems Initiative aims to aid poorer nations' agricultural adaptation but does not address livestock emissions.
Key quote:
“We’re seeing, essentially, the cow in the room being ignored.”
— Stephanie Feldstein, population and sustainability director at the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
Animal agriculture is a major driver of climate change, responsible for significant methane emissions and environmental degradation. Advocates say addressing this issue is crucial for achieving global climate goals and mitigating planetary warming.
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Newsletter
Climate change challenges Brazil's beef industry
Brazil's beef industry faces a potential 25% reduction in production by 2050 if it fails to adapt to stringent climate policies and forest conservation efforts.
In short:
- Brazil's beef production might decrease by a quarter by 2050 due to enhanced climate and forest conservation measures.
- The cattle industry faces significant financial risks unless it adopts new technologies and sustainable practices.
- Deforestation linked to cattle ranching exacerbates climate change, negatively affecting cattle health and soil productivity.
Key quote:
"The future of the Brazilian cattle sector is set to look very different to how it appears and operates today."
— Niamh McCarthy, director of Orbitas
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are expected to impact pasture quality and water availability, crucial for cattle grazing. These environmental changes can lead to reduced feed quality and availability, stressing cattle and potentially decreasing meat and milk production.
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What does a plant-based diet look like? Nothing like tech companies would have you believe
In her new book 'No Meat Required,' Alicia Kennedy advocates for rethinking everything about how we eat—and what we should replace it with.
Newsletter
Cowboys and vegetarians: Why American rightwingers see beef as a birthright
Meat and masculinity have been bound together in the US for centuries – and that’s no accident.
Newsletter
As the climate crisis escalates, here are 18 food and ag solutions
Climate change is here, and the news is dire. We share our recent stories of the many food system innovators finding ways to mitigate damage, increase resilience, and adapt to our ever-changing realities.
Newsletter
Inside big beef’s climate messaging machine: confuse, defend and downplay
A Masters of Beef Advocacy program teaches ‘scientific sounding’ arguments on cattle’s sustainability in an all-out public relations war
Why New York’s (mostly) vegan mayor wants to cut the city’s meat budget
The city estimates that its food purchases produce as much carbon as the exhaust from 70,000 gas-fueled cars.
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