General Article Meat is a complex health issue but a simple climate one: the world needs to eat less of it

Topic Selected: Dietary Choices
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By Dora Marinova, Curtin University and Talia Raphaely, Curtin University

Climate change is the greatest challenge to human health, according to the recent Lancet Commission report which calls for action to protect the global population. The report says that tackling climate change could deliver huge public health benefits, largely through phasing out coal, embracing renewable energy, and moving to a low-carbon economy. There is however one crucial issue the report fails to address: meat.

The commission’s recommendations are all based on solid evidence about the link between greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and human health. Focusing only on energy policy, however, will not be enough to head off climate change successfully. Calls for action that do not include reduction in the world’s livestock production and meat consumption will not be able to protect public health from the effects of climate change.

The livestock sector is a large source of global greenhouse gas emissions...

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