Eating better and less meat and dairy is key to fighting the climate crisis

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the environmental and climate impacts of the global livestock sector, arguing that a shift toward plant-based diets and alternative proteins is essential to meeting climate targets. It details the growth of meat production, the role of government subsidies in supporting industrial agriculture, and the emerging market for alternative proteins, while highlighting the need for systemic policy changes and a reduction in meat consumption, particularly in high-income regions.

• The livestock sector poses a significant threat to global climate goals; if the industry continues to grow as usual while other sectors follow a 1.5C pathway, it could consume 80% of the remaining greenhouse gas (GHG) budget within 32 years by 2050.
• Global meat and dairy production have increased substantially over the last several decades. Meat production is nearly six times higher than it was in 1961, and milk production has more than tripled in the same period. Meat production is projected to reach 374 million tonnes by 2030, with poultry acting as the primary driver of growth.
• The market for Alternative Protein (AP) products is expanding rapidly. Currently valued at USD 14 billion (1% of the global meat market), it is projected by Bloomberg to exceed USD 162 billion within the next decade. AT Kearney estimates that by 2040, 60% of meat consumed globally will come from lab-grown or AP alternatives.
• Government subsidies heavily favor traditional livestock over sustainable alternatives. Approximately USD 540 billion per year—nearly 90% of total global farming subsidies—is directed toward the production of milk, beef, and rice. In the EU, farming subsidies represent one-third of the total seven-year budget, yet they are described as failing to incentivize a more resilient food system.
• Dietary shifts are critical for reducing food system emissions, which account for up to 37% of global greenhouse emissions. While vegan diets offer the highest reduction (up to 8 GtCO2 eq/yr), flexitarian and vegetarian diets can reduce emissions by 4.3-6.4 GtCO2 eq/yr by 2050.

APA

Team, Z. (2021). Eating better and less meat and dairy is key to fighting the climate crisis. Zero Carbon Analytics. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/nature/eating-better-and-less-meat-and-dairy-is-key-to-fighting-the-climate-crisis/

Chicago

Team, ZCA. Eating better and less meat and dairy is key to fighting the climate crisis. Zero Carbon Analytics, 2021. https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/nature/eating-better-and-less-meat-and-dairy-is-key-to-fighting-the-climate-crisis/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Team |first1=ZCA |title=Eating better and less meat and dairy is key to fighting the climate crisis |publisher=Zero Carbon Analytics |date=5 December 2021 |url=https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/nature/eating-better-and-less-meat-and-dairy-is-key-to-fighting-the-climate-crisis/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{team2021eating, author = {Team, ZCA}, title = {{Eating better and less meat and dairy is key to fighting the climate crisis}}, institution = {Zero Carbon Analytics}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://zerocarbon-analytics.org/nature/eating-better-and-less-meat-and-dairy-is-key-to-fighting-the-climate-crisis/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }