On this edition of Your Call's One Planet series, we discuss the environmental impacts of the meat and dairy industries.
They account for 70 percent of global freshwater consumption, 38 percent of total land use and about 15 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent UN report. Scientists say people, particularly those who live in wealthier nations, must consume fewer animals products in order to save the world from the worst impacts of climate change.
Between 2020 and 2022, less than 0.5 percent of stories about climate change by leading news outlets in the US, the United Kingdom, and Europe mentioned meat or livestock, according to Madre Brava. What will it take for major media outlets to cover this critical issue?
Guests:
Joe Fassler, writer covering food and the environment
Kenny Torrella, staff writer for Vox covering animal welfare and the future of meat
Web Resources:
Vox: Why the media too often ignores the connection between climate change and meat
The Guardian: Hot air — five climate myths pushed by the US beef industry
The Guardian: Inside big beef’s climate messaging machine: confuse, defend and downplay
The Guardian: Vegan diet massively cuts environmental damage, study shows
Vox: A new investigation exposes the stomach-churning practice that goes into making your bacon
The Guardian: Methane emissions from 15 meat and dairy companies rival those of the EU
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism: JBS — The Brazilian butchers who took over the world
Sentient Media: Tyson Foods — How Many Chickens Does Tyson Kill Per Day?
