American Livestock Industry Lobby Group Downplayed Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Research Reveals
New research published in the journal PLOS Climate by Jennifer Jacquet of the University of Miami and Loredana Loy indicates that the National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA), now the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), actively worked to downplay the climate impacts of livestock. The study, based on archival research at the University of Wyoming, details instances where the NCA attempted to suppress messages and distort facts regarding the cattle industry's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This effort dates back to the early 1990s, following significant scientific findings on methane emissions from ruminant animals and increased public awareness of the 'greenhouse effect.' The NCA’s actions included publicly calling for the cessation of a children's book that mentioned cattle methane and commissioning researchers to refute claims about the environmental impact of meat consumption. The organization's 'Strategic Plan on the Environment' from 1989 acknowledged climate change as a real threat...
