Majority of Gen Z unaware of how meat consumption impacts climate
Gen Z聽聽'climate aware' but less aware of emissions linked to meat. Image: Pexels
Generation Z 鈥撀爐hose born after 1995 鈥撀爋verwhelmingly believe that climate change is being caused by humans and activities like the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and waste. But only a third understand how livestock and meat consumption are contributing to emissions, a new study by the University of Sydney and Curtin University researchers has revealed.聽
The researchers say this result comes despite estimates that聽聽of the world鈥檚 emissions are linked to meat and livestock production, calling for greater awareness among young people.
Led by Dr Diana Bogueva in the聽Centre for Advanced Food Engineering听补苍诲听School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering聽at the University of Sydney, the researchers conducted an online survey of Australian participants between the ages of 18 and 26 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Adelaide.
Participants were asked about the main contributors to climate change. Overwhelmingly, 85 percent stated that coal, fossil fuels and other unsustainable forms of energy contributed the most. This was followed by deforestation and biodiversity loss (59 percent), plastic, rubbish and food waste (58 percent), consumption and lifestyle practices 鈥撀爏uch as goods and services (55 percent), transport (54 percent), large industry (53 percent) and global population growth (45 percent).聽
Participants were asked about the main contributors to climate change. Image: Dr Diana Bogueva.
Although almost two-thirds nominated deforestation as the main contributor to climate change, just over a third (38 percent) believed livestock and agriculture (including meat consumption and unsustainable animal farming practices) to be the main contributor.聽
罢丑别听United Nations聽has estimated that agricultural production has driven almost 90 percent of the world鈥檚 deforestation.聽聽estimate three-quarters of deforestation is driven by agriculture, with most production coming from the beef, palm oil, soy and logging industries.
鈥淵oung people will be most impacted by climate change, and already they are paying the price for historic emissions,鈥� said lead researcher Dr Diana Bogueva.
鈥淎 steep reduction in emissions will be required to curb climate change, so it is vital our future decision-makers understand which activities contribute most and make informed choices.鈥�
The study also found that Generation Z does not generally engage with food provenance (where their food originates from) and most do not pay attention to food labelling.
Dr Bogueva said: 鈥淭here is a clear disconnect at play 鈥撀爓hile global warming is high on the Gen Z radar, the nexus between climate change and food is yet to be properly understood by young Australians.鈥�
Professor Dora Marinova said: 鈥淎 plant-based or flexitarian diet is a聽powerful way聽to curb emissions. All it requires is for someone to make a switch to more considered choices 鈥� and they can make that change today.鈥�
鈥淲ithout urgent changes to Generation Z鈥檚 food choices, now and in the future, meat consumption and livestock production will continue to drive global emissions, and I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 a future young people want," said Dr Bogueva.
The research was published in聽. Professor Marinova and Dr Bogueva recently published the book聽Food in a Planetary Emergency, which explores how global food production and consumption are impacting the environment and contributing to emissions, offering a positive, sustainable way forward.
DISCLOSURE
The research has received no external funding. The authors, Dr Diana Bogueva, Professor Dora Marinova, have no conflicts of interest to declare. The centre in which Dr Bogueva researched, the Centre for Advanced Food Engineering, has previously partnered with plant-based meat alternative Buds Burgers.聽
