Study Highlights the Environmental Impact of Meat Consumption in U.S. Cities
A collaborative study from the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota has quantified the environmental impact of meat consumption across more than 3,500 cities in the U.S., referring to this measure as the “carbon hoofprint.” This study reveals that the greenhouse gas emissions linked to meat consumption are comparable to the energy usage of millions of homes.
Particularly in the Mountain West and Southwest regions, cities exhibit larger carbon hoofprints. This is attributed to the fact that these areas source much of their beef from arid, feedlot-intensive locations that demand considerable feed and water resources.
Benjamin Goldstein, one of the study’s authors and a researcher at the University of Michigan, suggested that “reducing beef consumption can have large reductions in your hoofprint.” He recommends alternative protein sources like chicken, pork, or even tofu as viable options.
The research posits that a 50% reduction in beef consumption could lead to a similar decrease in emissions associated with meat.
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association did not provide a comment on these findings.
This report was developed by the Mountain West News Bureau, a joint effort involving KUNR, Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNC in Northern Colorado, KANW in New Mexico, Colorado Public Radio, KJZZ in Arizona, and NPR. The initiative receives partial funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
