Exclusive: Study released at Cop28 misused research to underestimate impact of cutting meat eating, say academics
A flagship UN report on livestock emissions is facing calls for retraction from two key experts it cited who say that the paper “seriously distorted” their work.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) misused their research to underestimate the potential of reduced meat intake to cut agricultural emissions, according to a letter sent to the FAO by the two academics, which the Guardian has seen.
Paul Behrens, an associate professor at Leiden University and Matthew Hayek, an assistant professor at New York University, both accuse the FAO study of systematic errors, poor framing, and highly inappropriate use of source data.
Hayek told the Guardian: “The FAO’s errors were multiple, egregious, conceptual and all had the consequence of reducing the emissions mitigation possibilities from dietary change far below what they should be. None of the mistakes had the opposite effect.”
the real answer is to just start a.plant based diet which already has palatable meat alternatives. why bother waiting for lab grown meat?
Because most people don’t WANT a vegetarian diet, and forcing people to do things is both stupid and doesn’t work. Therefore, a meat option that’s not terrible is the obvious correct path forward.
I never said I would force anyone. that seems to be an issue on your side.
I’d be happy to talk about plant diets if you are interested.
the article makes it clear that it is a significant way to reduce greenhouse gases. the extra land could also be reforested. just two environmental advantages.
Lab grown meat also frees up pastures, because a petri dish doesn’t need to graze.
that’s true. and if it is really viable then that’s great. in the meantime, you could consider eating plants
I do eat plants.
good stuff. enjoy.
The same reason you can’t just ban cars in the US. It’s part of the culture.
if eating meat is vital to your personality then you should continue.
The implications of this article is that big corporations are manipulating science and society in order to sell something that is most probably dangerous to the environment.