To read the following articles in their entirety, please click on links below:
VegNews: https://vegnews.com/2023/6/climate-content-animal-agriculture
“93% of Climate Content Fails to Connect the Dots to Animal Agriculture”
According to this article, data analysis shows that animal agriculture is grossly underreported as a cause of climate change.
A new report by the non-profit organization, Sentient Media and the research firm, Faunalytics analyzed the 100 most recent climate change articles published by 10 national news outlets, including the NY Times and the Wall Street Journal.
The report, titled “Animal Agriculture is the Missing Piece in Climate Change Media Coverage,” highlights the urgent need for increased media attention on the detrimental environmental impact of animal agriculture. The report’s findings identified that in only 7% of the articles, animal agriculture was mentioned.
The analysis found that mining, manufacturing and energy production received significant coverage in 68% of articles. Fossil fuels were mentioned in 53%, but animal agriculture, a leading cause of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, only received 7% of media attention.
Much of the limited coverage given to animal agriculture focused on the climate impacts of livestock but did not address the crucial issue of meat production as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The study reveals a significant disparity between the actual emissions caused by animal agriculture and the media coverage it receives in discussions about climate change.
“The cattle industry alone accounts for over 60% of animal agriculture emissions, yet only 30% of the articles that brought up animal agriculture mentioned the cattle industry,” Coni Arevalo, a research associate at Faunalytics, said in a statement.
The connection between diet and climate change: The report provides examples of missed opportunities to educate the public on the connection between diet and climate pollution. It highlights stories that reported on how drought conditions during the summer of 2022 threatened livestock populations, leading farmers to sell animals for slaughter as they were unable to keep them cool and hydrated. Such stories failed to inform readers about the impact of peoples’ dietary choices on climate emissions, despite beef consumption being a major driver of emissions in the food sector.
The Los Angeles Times stood out among the news outlets analyzed, mentioning animal agriculture in 14% of articles. Reuters and CNN were also recognized for their efforts to discuss the impact of diet on climate change in articles that addressed animal agriculture.
Ana Bradley, the executive director of Sentient Media, stressed the influence of the media in shaping public choices and behaviors. Bradley hopes that the report will encourage journalists and publications to address the void in coverage and equip readers with essential facts.
“The media holds incredible influence over how we live our lives and the choices we make. We’re missing a huge piece of the story by continuing to ignore the role of industrial animal agriculture, Ana Bradley, said in a statement.
Sentient Media plans to bridge the gap between climate and food reporting by publishing a reporting toolkit and will launch the Food and Farming Media Network hub, providing resources and fostering collaboration among journalists, who struggle to secure resources for climate coverage.
A New Game Changers Documentary is in the works:
VegNews: https://vegnews.com/2023/6/vegan-documentary-the-game-changers-sequel
The initial Game Changers documentary focused predominantly on themes like plant-based diets and their roles in optimal athletic performance and the myth that eating meat is essential for “Manliness”, the sequel will focus on children’s health, the impact of our food system on the planet, and food justice. Food justice is a significant issue in the US where it is noted that there are more than 6,500 deserts (areas where healthy, nutritious foods, like fresh vegetables and fruits are not easily accessible).
House & Senate Committees Pass FDA Funding Bill, Supports Non Animal Testing Methods
June 29, 2023
https://www.pcrm.org/news/good-science-digest/house-and-senate-committees-pass-fda-fundin g-bill-supports-nonanimal
The House and Senate bill (passed late June 2023) reports include several provisions supported by the Physicians Committee to advance progress for the wider acceptance of non animal methods. Non Animal approaches, including modern in vitro and computational innovations, rely on human cells, tissues, and data to improve safety and efficacy of medical product development, and increase efficiency by cutting down on resource-intensive animal testing. The Physicians Committee appreciates the Appropriations Committees in both chambers for including these provisions in their bill reports to help both protect animals and improve FDA-regulated product testing.