Food

Explainer

Is Beef Consumption in the U.S. Headed in the Right Direction?

Americans still eat more beef than anyone else in the world.

Climate•7 min read

Solutions

NYC Hospitals Are Nudging Patients Toward Plant-Based Meals. It’s Working.

New York City is cutting emissions and saving money by making vegetarian meals the default in public hospitals. It’s successful because most people go with the flow.

Climate•11 min read

Solutions

Young Activists Are Getting Plant-Based on the Menu, for Climate and Animals

Getting restaurants to serve more plant-based food can have big climate impacts.

Climate•4 min read

Explainer

Why Eating Local Isn’t a Climate Solution

It’s about what you eat, not how it got there.

Climate•7 min read

Reported

The Senate’s New Farm Bill Would Prioritize the Climate. Too Bad It’s Basically Doomed.

Democrats and Republicans can't seem to agree over what belongs in the nation's leading agricultural policy.

Food•7 min read

Explainer

Your Thanksgiving Meal’s Climate Impact, in 4 Charts

The single dish with the highest carbon footprint is not the meat — it’s the mac n cheese.

Climate•4 min read

Reported

Food Is a Huge Source of Methane Emissions. Fixing That Is No Easy Feat

At least two-thirds of methane emissions come from human activity, which is both a problem and an opportunity.

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

Why Eating Organic Isn’t a Climate Solution

Unfortunately, many organic foods are actually less climate-friendly.

Climate•8 min read

Solutions

Does ‘Less Meat, Better Meat’ Actually Solve Beef’s Climate Problem?

Research suggests grass-fed meat has a higher carbon footprint.

Climate•7 min read

Explainer

Why Eating Meat Is Bad for the Environment and Climate Change, Explained

It’s becoming a well-known fact that beef is bad for the climate – but it’s important to understand the reasons why.

Climate•7 min read

Reported

UN Climate Plan Fails to Tackle Emissions from Meat, Researchers Warn

The FAO’s food system roadmap omits the most urgent climate intervention — curbing how much meat we eat.

Climate•3 min read

Explainer

The Best & Worst Protein Sources for the Environment, Explained

Most people know beef is bad for the climate. But how does tofu compare to other plant proteins, like almonds or hemp?

Climate•10 min read

Explainer

The Best & Worst Milks for the Environment, Decoded

From dairy to soy to oat to almond, these are the milks with the highest and lowest carbon footprints.

Climate•8 min read

Reported

‘Climate-Friendly’ Meat May Not Sell in Europe, Literally

New rules aim to crack down on greenwashing, and for once meat and dairy are not exempt.

Climate•5 min read

Explainer

The Bill Gates Bug-Eating Conspiracy, Explained

The surprising origins of the idea that billionaire Bill Gates wants to feed you insects.

Climate•8 min read

Reported

This Year, COP28 Is Finally Making Its Menu Match Calls to Climate Action

Two thirds of meals served at COP28 were vegan or vegetarian, which could make this year’s conference a model for future climate events.

Climate•7 min read

Perspective

Will Climate Cookbooks Change How We Eat?

Sustainable diets have been around for ages, but an emerging cookbook genre signals a new appetite for change.

Climate•13 min read

Explainer

Meat Consumption Is Rising — But Not in the Way You Think

9 charts explain exactly how Americans consume meat.

Climate•2 min read

Reported

Top Meat and Dairy Companies Are Emitting More, Not Less, Pollution

A new investment report finds companies like Hormel and JBS are driving global greenhouse gas emissions in the wrong direction.

Climate•4 min read

Explainer

Pet Food’s Environmental Impact Can’t Be Ignored 

It’s time to talk about the substantial pawprint of our pets’ food.

Climate•8 min read

Reported

Crisis Unfolds on India’s Dairy Farms

Even as a painful and lethal disease wipes out millions of cows and buffalo, India's dairy industry keeps pumping out more milk.

Climate•5 min read

Reported

By Cutting Meat and Milk Consumption in Half, We Could Stop Deforestation

A new study shows replacing half of the meat and milk we eat with plant-based alternatives would cut agricultural emissions by almost a third.

Climate•5 min read

Reported

The Hidden Climate Cost of the Bacon on Your Plate

Gassing America’s pigs with carbon dioxide could be the emissions equivalent of an extra 6,500 cars on the road every year. And it should be on camera.

Climate•5 min read

Explainer

Why So-Called Fake Meat Is Actually Better for Nature Than the Real Thing

"Fake meat" has long been used as an insult to the alternative protein market but in reality natural meat is far worse for the planet.

Climate•9 min read

Explainer

What a Climavore Eats and Believes, Explained

A new kind of eater — the climavore — eats foods based on their environmental footprint. But the approach has been criticized by food justice and animal advocates.

Climate•7 min read

Reported

In India, Climate Change Is Devastating Animals and Farmers Alike

A vicious cycle of poverty, climate change, and animal suffering makes dairy farming unsustainable.

Climate•9 min read

Reported

How Campus Cafeterias Became Hotspots for Climate Action

To help slash emissions, college students are pushing for less beef and more plants on campus.

Climate•8 min read

Reported

Some Muslims Want a Greener Ramadan With Less Meat

A growing number of Muslims have been working to promote "Green Ramadan" — to help celebrants reduce food waste and eat less meat.

Climate•4 min read

Explainer

Is Almond Milk Bad for the Environment?

Almond milk has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so. More and more Americans enjoy it in recipes or their coffee, or even straight from the carton. Yet…

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

How Much Water Does a Cow Need?

California may be out of its drought but millions of thirsty animals farmed in the west are still at risk. Just how much water does a cow drink anyway?

Climate•3 min read

Explainer

What Is Climate-Smart Agriculture?

With over $3 billion allocated to climate-smart agriculture programs, some experts worry there's little agreement about what the term actually means.

Climate•11 min read

Explainer

Explainer: Why Is Beef Bad for the Planet?

It all comes down to burps and land.

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

Why Is Cattle Ranching Bad for the Environment?

Across the globe, cattle ranching is a leading cause of environmental damage, including high levels of water use, deforestation and methane emissions.

Climate•5 min read

Explainer

How Much Does Animal Agriculture Contribute to Climate Change?

Animal agriculture is responsible for 16.5 percent of all global greenhouse emissions.

Climate•7 min read

Perspective

The Correction: Surf, Turf…Or Plants?

A recent article in Popular Science touts "sustainably-sourced seafood" without reporting on the massive damage caused by industrial fishing and aquaculture.

Climate•1 min read

Reported

Cambridge University Says It’s ‘Closing a Chapter on Meat’, but There’s Still Plenty of Beef on the Menu

One of the world's most prestigious universities made a pledge to go meat-free but the reality has been far from sustainable.

Climate•4 min read

Perspective

The U.S. Needs to Reduce Its Food-Related Emissions. Cities Can—and Must—Lead the Way.

Reducing meat consumption is one of the most meaningful ways individuals can fight climate change. Experts say dietary changes at the local level are necessary to make a meaningful impact.

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

Eating Less Meat Is the Most Effective Way to Fight Climate Change

Eating less meat is the most powerful tool we have to avoid climate destruction. Here are a few tips to help you eat more sustainably.

Climate•8 min read

Analysis

Choosing Plant-Based Foods Could Have Lasting Impact on Biodiversity

A new report from the Food Foundation shows that choosing plant-based foods in place of conventional meat products could have far-reaching impacts on nature.

Climate•3 min read

Explainer

Eating Less Meat Is Key to Climate Mitigation

Scientists say dietary change is required to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. Higher-income countries can maximize their impact by eating less meat.

Climate•8 min read

Explainer

How Eating Less Meat Could Help Save the Planet

Animal agriculture is responsible for a large portion of global emissions. If you’re trying to lower your carbon footprint, going vegan may be the answer.

Climate•8 min read

Reported

UK Students Call for Plant-Based Meals at Universities to Fight Climate Change

Hundreds of students at over 20 universities across Britain are asking their administrations to stop serving animal products. How will the schools respond?

Climate•5 min read

Perspective

What Happens When Eating Less Meat Becomes Politically Popular

Many of the promises made at COP26—like the pledge to end deforestation—won't be possible until we all start eating less meat.

Climate•5 min read

Perspective

How the ‘Eat Local’ Food Myth Led to COP26’s Menu Failure

COP26 chose to serve attendees some of the world’s most climate-damaging foods. A closer look at the menu reveals why.

Climate•5 min read

Perspective

There Is No Such Thing as Sustainable Beef

The beef industry is trying to clean up its image by promising that it's doing more to help the climate crisis than hurt it. Science says otherwise.

Climate•4 min read

Perspective

Reducing Meat Consumption Would Free Up More Land for Climate Solutions

The message of the climate movement is clear: stop fossil fuel extraction and move to renewable energies. This is a great message, and a good start, but it’s not enough.

Climate•6 min read

Reported

Epicurious Says Goodbye to Beef, But There’s Still Meat on the Menu

Epicurious has stopped publishing beef recipes, citing environmental concerns. But is cutting out dishes made from one animal really enough, and could it make things worse for other animals?

Climate•5 min read

Explainer

Plant-Based Foods: Better for You and the Environment

The numerous environmental benefits of eating plant-based foods have been well-documented. Animal agriculture is a primary driver behind climate change.

Climate•9 min read

Reported

How Carbon Labels Are Getting People to Eat Less Meat

Carbon labels are making it easier for consumers to choose climate-friendly foods over carbon-heavy ones. Could this inadvertently encourage people to eat less meat?

Climate•7 min read

Perspective

The High Cost of Consuming Animals

Worldwide, roughly 70 billion animals are raised and slaughtered each year within the food system. Producing so many animals comes with a high price for us, for animals, and for…

Climate•11 min read