Our love of steak is killing the world

Or is it just hot air?

Or is it just hot air?

Gen Z don't understand the overwhelming impact meat and livestock production have on climate change, new research has revealed, as experts urgently call for young people to take up a plant-based diet for the betterment of their future.

The survey, conducted by the University of Sydney, revealed Gen Z - those born after 1995 - overwhelmingly believe climate change is caused by humans and activities, like burning fossil fuels, deforestation and waste - not by agricultural production.

85% of those surveyed stated that coal, fossil fuels and other unsustainable forms of energy contributed the most.

This was followed by deforestation and biodiversity loss (59%), plastic, rubbish and food waste (58%), consumption and lifestyle practices – such as goods and services (55%), transport (54%), large industry (53%) and global population growth (45%).

Just over a third (38%) believed livestock and agriculture to be the main contributor, despite recent research from the United Nations estimating that agricultural production has driven almost 90% of the world's deforestation. 

“Young people will be most impacted by climate change, and already they are paying the price for historic emissions,” said lead researcher Dr Diana Bogueva.

“A 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.”

The study also found that Gen 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: “There is a clear disconnect at play – while 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.”

Professor Dora Marinova, another researched on the study, said: “A plant-based or flexitarian diet is a powerful way to curb emissions. All it requires is for someone to make a switch to more considered choices – and they can make that change today.”

“Without urgent changes to Generation Z’s food choices, now and in the future, meat consumption and livestock production will continue to drive global emissions, and I don’t think that’s a future young people want," said Dr Bogueva.

The government are trying to nix our methane emissions

If a cow burps in the paddock and no one is around to hear it, did it even happen?

The answer is yes.

Bovine digestive functions are in the spotlight as the agriculture sector has been pulled into a debate about methane emissions.

In Australia, the burps, farts and other waste from cattle and sheep are responsible for about 48% of our national methane emissions.

🐄 Livestock produces more methane in Australia than fossil fuels.

♻️ 11% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions come from cows and sheep.

🐮 90% of cow methane comes from burps.

💨 10% of cow methane comes from farts.

On Thursday is was reported by The Australian that Australia is set to sign up to "pledge" to reduce methane emissions by 30% over the next 10 years.

Australian farmers are spooked as there are concerns it could lead to a "burp tax", like the one that was announced by the New Zealand government on Wednesday and is slated to be introduced in 2025 in a bid to curb agricultural emissions.

In NZ, the farming industry accounts for about half of its emissions.

Australian farmers are not sitting idly by however.

The livestock sector is already working on becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and is warning against any movement to legislate methane targets like NZ and what the Albanese government did with its climate change bill back in August.

Why are we talking about this?

Ahead of COP27 - the United Nation's Climate Change Conference  - Australia is tipped to sign up to a policy that US President Joe Biden took to the COP26 summit in Glasgow last year.

It is a voluntary pledge penned by Biden to cut emissions of methane gas  by 30%.

Methane is more potent then carbon dioxide but doesn't hang around in the atmosphere as long.

It was Biden's signature contribution to the environmental summit last year.

Ten of our neighbours in the South Pacific,  including Fiji, PNG and Samoa, are among 122 nations who have signed the non-binding agreement.

The host of next month's summit, Egypt, as well as Oman, Qatar and Uzbekistan have recently committed.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison didn't sign Australia up. Neither did China, Russia and India - where there are about 300 million bovine grazing and a dairy industry that employs about 80 million people.

Australia, in comparison, is home to about 28 million cows. Research into methane-­suppressing supplements and alternatives like seaweed, has ramped up in recent years to tackle the problem.

DIVE DEEPER: Cow's seaweed diet has high steaks for the planet

A methane deal could hit Australian farmers hard as they may become collateral damage down the track if Australia moves to sign on.

If legislation is introduced, instead of what is now being touted as an "aspirational target", the agricultural sector - specifically small to medium scale livestock operations - will be lumbered with more costs, tighter regulations and more external pressure from social and environmental groups.

The National Farmers Federation and Meat and Livestock Australia have said a legislated target will lead to smaller herds and, ultimately, more expensive meat, dairy and shoes.

Cows aren't the enemy, coal is

The real target of the Biden's methane angst is fossil fuels.

Announcing the plan in September 2021, Biden said major sources of methane emissions include oil and gas, coal, agriculture, and landfills.

"The greatest potential for targeted mitigation by 2030 (is) in the energy sector," he said.

One of his first acts as President was signing an executive order to curtail methane emissions for the oil and gas industry.

Greens leader Adam Bandt copped on.

Bandt said last year, encouraging the government to sign up at COP26, "The Morrison-Joyce government's finger pointing about cattle was hiding the real problem: coal and gas."

According to the International Energy Agency the methane pledge is "non-binding" and individual countries are not assigned targets.

At the moment it's all a bit like agreeing to a weekend away with friends after a bottle of pet nat. But who knows if you even remember the plan, feel like going, or can even afford it when the time comes to pay your share.

Like Biden, the IEA, is also pointing the finger at fossil fuel operations, rather than cows.

It says fossil fuel operations account for more than one-third of human-caused methane emissions and achieving a 75 % reduction in emission from fossil fuel operations would take the world most of the way to fulfilling the "Global Methane Pledge".

READ MORE: Farmers' beef with the new curriculum

What is everyone saying?

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt

Senator Watt said the 30% reduction is an “aspirational” goal which will not impact food prices.

He said Australia had no plans to follow New Zealand’s "burp tax".

Another scare campaign from the LNP, this time on methane emissions.

This mob has been left behind by an agriculture industry which is already implementing more sustainable practices.

Enough of the bullshit. We're getting on with the job. pic.twitter.com/aqNO2gpiWl

— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) October 13, 2022

Watt said the methane pledge would not hike up food prices, as the government was not planning to “do anything that would impact people’s prices”.

"I and other ministers have been consulting with farm groups and individual farmers about how they feel about this and what the impacts would be," Watt said.

“I would be comfortable if we were to sign up to this as the representative of the agriculture, industry and the government and, and that that position is pretty much backed by all the industry groups as well."

The Nationals leader and shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud

Littleproud is warning the cost of meat will inevitably rise and become unaffordable for a lot of people and also kill barbecues.

“Australians are already hurting with petrol prices, electricity prices and food prices,” Littleproud said.

“Now the Aussie BBQ is under threat."

This is methane madness. @Bowenchris must make it clear if farmers in Australia will be taxed. pic.twitter.com/CgmgvwXXjk

— David Littleproud MP (@D_LittleproudMP) October 12, 2022

Shadow Veterans' Affairs Minister Barnaby Joyce

"They're signing us up to do a pledge, but it's not the pledge we want," the former Nats leader said.

"They're going overseas to wine and dine and do the fancy things. They're going to endear themselves to Joe Biden and Jacinda Ardern, ... and they're pledging away our sovereignty." 

Joyce echoed Littleproud, saying consumers would pay more for beef if the pledge came into effect.

"The mother who is pushing the shopping trolley will ultimately end up paying for the cost... All these promises, pledges, targets come at a cost, and ultimately you will have to pay for it." 

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek

"Meat and Livestock Australia and the National Farmers Association both have their own climate goals... Of course we are working with them on these additional pledges around methane," she said.

"If Australia can decarbonise its meat production, European markets will throw open their doors to Australian beef," she said.

Carbon neutral cattle and sheep farmer Mark Wootton

Wootton is “slightly nervous” the Albanese government would make the methane pledge binding.

“We haven’t got the tools in the toolbox to be able to do what we need to do now, so it might be putting the cart before the horse, so to speak,” Wootton told The Australian.

“If the only alternative is we have to de-stock, well I don’t know what people are going to wear and I don’t know what they’re going to eat.”

National Farmers Federation chief executive Tony Mahar

"The government must honour its commitment to steer clear of new taxes and restrictions, and recognise Australian agriculture's climate leadership," Mahar said.