Report Reveals How Big Meat and Dairy Manipulate Climate Action, Affecting Consumer Choices

A new report from the Changing Markets Foundation exposes how top meat and dairy companies use delay tactics similar to those of the tobacco and fossil fuel industries to obstruct climate action. These industries are highlighted as major contributors to global greenhouse emissions, especially methane from animal agriculture.

The report criticises the companies for advocating voluntary measures over enforceable policies, despite clear scientific advice on the urgent need to cut methane emissions to meet the Paris Agreement's targets. Key findings reveal these firms misleading policymakers and the public, advocating for lenient, voluntary measures over rigorous environmental regulations.

The report also outlines how these corporations engage in greenwashing and influence policies through lobbying, affecting consumer perceptions and choices by marketing their products as eco-friendly without substantial environmental commitments.

The investigation shows these industries are especially concerned about younger generations, more aware of climate change and personal health, and therefore targets explicitly Gen Z with its advertising campaigns, using influencers and social media.

The report says corporate manipulation extends to aggressive marketing targeted at younger generations, misleading them about the climate impacts of meat and dairy products.

Source: Freedom Food Alliance.

Key findings of the report include how:

• Big Meat and Dairy’s global influence is exposed by analysing 22 of the largest meat and dairy companies across four continents, alongside their powerful trade groups.
  

• Revolving doors, conflicts of interest, and privileged access to top policymakers allow the global livestock industry to block emissions monitoring and regulation.
  

• Industry giants misuse the controversial GWP* methane metric to downplay livestock's climate impact, funding scientists to pull the wool over policymakers' eyes.
  

• Greenwashing tactics, false climate claims, and targeted disinformation to Gen Z underscore the urgent need for stricter legislation on the meat and dairy industry.

Watch this video for more insight into the tactics of global animal meat and dairy companies and what they are not telling the consumer.

For detailed findings in the full report CLICK HERE

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