To meat or not to meat?

ClimateInColour Deep Dives

Food is an essential part of our daily lives; it not only sustains us, but also provides pleasure, a sense of identity, and a livelihood for many people. However, in a climate-changing world, what we eat is becoming increasingly political.

At the heart of the conversation around sustainable diets is the contentious question of meat.

Livestock production is one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss (using up to 80% of the arable land on Earth) and accounts for almost 60 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food. As a result, the IPCC’s climate change and land report recommends a shift to more plant-based diets.

So, should we all be vegan? As with many climate “solutions”, the answer is never simple or binary. Let’s dive into the debate!

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Welcome back to the ClimateInColour Deep Dives, bi-weekly in-depth reads covering the intersection of climate justice, climate science and climate technology. In your inbox, every Monday, to start the week right.

Research: Georgie Hurst | Editor: Joycelyn Longdon

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