Where’s the Beef? The Climate Debate on Your Plate

Where’s the Beef? The Climate Debate on Your Plate

From Sanity Check by Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation

March 6, 2026 · 16 min

About this episode

David R. Legates examines the scientific claims surrounding the environmental impact of the beef industry.

Is eating beef really bad for the planet? Environmental activists often claim cattle are a major driver of climate change, deforestation, water shortages, and biodiversity loss. From methane emissions to land use, the beef industry has become a central target in the modern environmental movement. But how much of this narrative holds up under scrutiny? In this episode, David R. Legates examines the scientific claims behind the war on beef—looking at methane emissions, land use, water consumpti...

People in this episode

Guest: David R. Legates

Topics covered

  • climate change
  • beef industry
  • environmental impact
  • methane emissions
  • land use
  • water consumption

Keywords

  • beef
  • climate debate
  • environmental activists
  • methane
  • deforestation
  • biodiversity loss

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