Meat Consumption and Climate Change Discourse

The global consumption of meat has become a focal point in discussions of climate change due to its substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and land use. Discourse around meat often intersects with public health, environmental sustainability and ethical considerations, giving rise to a complex debate that spans science, policy and culture. Media representations play a critical role in shaping perceptions of responsibility, whether at the level of individual choice, industry practices or government regulation. Simultaneously, political and economic interests exert significant influence over policy agendas, creating barriers to transformative change. Recent dialogue has emphasised the need for a socio-technical transition towards alternative proteins and reduced reliance on high-impact foods, yet cultural norms and institutional rigidity continue to impede progress. Understanding these multifaceted dynamics is essential for designing effective interventions that align individual behaviour with broader sustainability goals.

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Meat Consumption and Climate Change Discourse publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in meat consumption and climate change discourse across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Greenhouse gas emissions: The release of gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

Carnism: The ideology that conditions individuals to eat certain animals and regard meat consumption as normal and necessary.

Socio-technical transition: A systemic shift involving interactions between technology, institutions and social practices toward more sustainable modes of production and consumption.

Narrative framing: The process by which media and policy actors shape public understanding by emphasising particular aspects of an issue and omitting others.

References

1. Understanding the Political Challenge of Red and Processed Meat Reduction for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems: A Narrative Review of the Literature. International Journal of Health Policy and Management (2020).
2. Meat consumption, behaviour and the media environment: a focus group analysis across four countries. Food Security (2019).
3. What do Consumers Read About Meat? An Analysis of Media Representations of the Meat-environment Relationship Found in Popular Online News Sites in the UK.. Environmental Communication (2022).