By Abbas Nazil
A study has revealed that meat consumption in the United States generates nearly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as domestic fossil fuel use.
The research, published in Nature Climate Change, found that more than 11 million tons of meat consumed annually in U.S. cities result in about 329 million tons of carbon emissions.
This figure is comparable to the 334 million tons produced by fossil fuel combustion in the country each year.
The emissions from meat consumption alone exceed the total annual carbon output of nations such as the United Kingdom and Italy, the researchers said.
The study, led by Benjamin P. Goldstein, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, mapped the “carbon hoofprint” of beef, chicken, and pork consumption in 3,531 U.S. cities using a high-resolution model linking urban demand to rural production regions.
New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago — the three most populated U.S. cities — consume a combined total of 3.2 million tons of meat annually.
Goldstein explained that the environmental impact varies widely depending on where the meat is produced because American supply chains stretch across thousands of miles, connecting hundreds of counties.
For example, Los Angeles sources beef from 10 counties, but those producers depend on livestock and feed from hundreds more.
The researchers suggested that cutting food waste and switching from beef to poultry could reduce emissions from meat consumption by up to 51 percent.
They also noted that integrating trees into livestock grazing systems could further lower the carbon footprint of meat production.
Goldstein emphasized that achieving urban sustainability requires cities to consider the hidden environmental costs of their food supply chains.
He added that individuals can make a significant impact by adopting more plant-based diets or choosing chicken and pork instead of beef.
“Ultimately, it’s not just about how food is produced or how far it travels,” Goldstein said. “It’s about what we choose to eat.”