This week, I looked into the environmental impact of a meal I had recently had, a black and blue burger with fries. It tasted amazing, but after doing some research, it’s pretty clear that this kind of meal can have a big environmental footprint. Between the beef, cheese, and fried potatoes, there are a lot of factors contributing to things like greenhouse gas emissions and resource use.
Global and National Actions
At the global and national level, beef production is a huge contributor to climate change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and beef is one of the biggest culprits (FAO, 2013). One possible solution would be for countries to reduce subsidies for large-scale meat production and instead support more sustainable farming practices. Governments could also include environmental guidelines in national food recommendations. But the problem is, changing big systems like this takes time, and there’s often pushback from powerful industries and people who just don’t want to give up their burgers.
Local Actions
On a smaller scale, cities and local communities can encourage things like farmers’ markets, farm-to-table restaurants, or school lunch programs that focus on sustainable options. Even just offering more plant-based meals at local restaurants could help. Still, not every town or city has access to those kinds of resources, and sometimes they’re just more expensive or harder to get.
Individual and Household Actions
At the individual level, people can choose to eat less red meat, look for locally raised or grass-fed beef, or try out meat alternatives. At home, things like Meatless Mondays or trying more plant-based meals can make a difference. I know personally, I’ve started cutting back on beef without completely giving it up. But again, not everyone has the same access to fresh, affordable food, and old habits are hard to break.
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