Read more The Guardian

• The food and agriculture sector is responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making it the second-largest climate driver after fossil fuels.
• A new analysis found that media coverage significantly overlooks this issue: only about 3% of climate articles in major US outlets mention food and agriculture as a cause.
• The omission is most stark regarding animal agriculture/meat production, which accounts for nearly 60% of the food sector’s emissions, yet was mentioned in only 3.8% of the analyzed articles.
• This lack of media focus contributes to a public perception gap, as 74% of US adults believe eating less meat has little to no effect on the climate crisis.
• Meat production drives climate change through high methane emissions from ruminant livestock (cattle) and the use of over 80% of the world’s agricultural land, leading to deforestation.
• Experts suggest the topic is neglected because governments and media are hesitant to touch on the cultural sensitivity of dietary change, and the beef industry actively deploys counter-messaging.
• Scientists conclude that moderating meat consumption (particularly beef) in developed countries is a crucial, unavoidable step to address global land-use problems and significantly reduce emissions.