What if every burger we eat represents more than just food? What if it tells a story about nature and our planet’s health?
Many of us have heard that eating meat contributes to climate change, and it’s true. The livestock sector is responsible for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from cattle (FAO, 2013). This connection brings important questions about how our meat consumption is affecting the Earth.
However, what we don’t discuss enough is how climate change is impacting meat itself. This isn’t just about how livestock affects the climate; it’s also about how a warming planet is altering the meat we consume.
Think about it: each piece of meat comes from animals that relied on grass, water, and sunlight. It’s a complex system of interactions between water, food, and energy. When climate conditions shift, this system struggles to stay intact.
Today, rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme weather are disrupting agricultural practices worldwide. These changes lead to challenges like heat stress in livestock, poor quality feed, and increased disease. This situation threatens not just the meat supply but also its quality and accessibility (United Nations, 2025).
As climate patterns evolve, we need to ponder: what happens to the meat on our plates when the very animals and systems that produce it begin to falter?
Quality Under Pressure: The Effects of Climate on Meat
Climate change puts enormous stress on livestock, affecting their health and growth. For instance, heat stress can reduce how much feed livestock consume by 3% to 5% for each degree Celsius above 30°C (Das et al., 2016). This reduction can slow metabolism and even lead to higher mortality rates. Poultry, for example, can suffer up to a 16% decrease in feed intake, resulting in lower growth and impaired health (Mangan & Siwek, 2023).
Water shortages, exacerbated by droughts, further complicate matters. In South Korea, extreme heat waves claimed the lives of nearly 160,000 livestock in just one day (Kim et al., 2024). Reports from the Philippines indicate that rising temperatures are impacting local agriculture, affecting both reproduction and milk production in carabaos (Climate Tracker Asia, 2024).
When the Heat is On
Higher global temperatures don’t just harm growth; they also reduce meat quality. Stress can lead to lower muscle mass, altered fat content, and greater moisture loss in meat. For instance, heat-stressed poultry can show poor color and high drip loss, which negatively impacts how consumers view the meat quality (Nawaz et al., 2021).
This stress also weakens the immune system of livestock, making them more vulnerable to diseases, which risks contamination during processing. Furthermore, higher temperatures accelerate spoilage, increasing waste and decreasing safety standards, especially in regions with limited refrigeration capabilities (Hodges et al., 2010).
The Impact on Supply Chains
Extreme weather not only affects livestock but also disrupts the entire meat supply chain. Droughts and floods damage feed production, while severe weather hinders transportation infrastructure like roads and ports (World Bank, 2022). Over time, these disruptions lead to higher prices for both producers and consumers. When livestock numbers decline, supply drops. But as transportation and feed costs rise, prices spike, making meat less affordable, particularly for low-income populations (Godde et al., 2021).
Data shows a worrying trend: climate change is amplifying food inflation percentages globally, pushing some to reduce their meat intake or seek cheaper alternatives. Such patterns not only affect diets but also raise concerns about nutritional quality (Tchonkouang et al., 2024).
The Equity Equation: Who Suffers?
As meat prices rise, vulnerable populations face increased malnutrition risks. Animal protein is crucial for many communities, and the increasing cost can make it inaccessible (Maqbool et al., 2024). This gap highlights the dual impact of climate change: some regions consume too much meat while others can barely afford it.
Smallholder farmers who make up a significant portion of meat production often struggle to adapt due to limited access to technology or financial support. Many lack the resources needed to implement climate-resilient practices (World Bank, 2022). While some programs show promise, the challenges persist, especially for smaller producers.
Moreover, the meat industry contributes significantly to climate change, accounting for 14.5% of global emissions through methane and nitrous oxide (Musa, 2020). The continued cycle of climate-induced stress on livestock leads to inefficiencies in emissions, ultimately calling for significant changes in farming practices.
Cultural Dynamics
Climate change also influences cultural practices related to meat consumption. Communities that adhere to specific dietary traditions may find their cultural identities threatened as livestock practices change. For instance, disruptions to halal or non-halal meat production could affect spiritual and nutritional needs in Muslim-majority regions (UNDP Climate Change Adaptation, 2023).
In summary, climate change is reshaping the meat industry at every level—from farm to consumer. It impacts animal health, quality, supply chains, and also raises critical questions of equity and cultural identity. The time to consider more sustainable practices is now. Investments in adaptive farming, infrastructure improvements, and inclusive policies will be essential as we navigate this changing landscape.
To ensure access to food and maintain cultural traditions, we must rethink our approach to meat consumption and production. The upcoming years will be pivotal in shaping what the future of meat looks like in an uncertain climate.
References:
For a deeper understanding of these impacts, refer to the following sources:
- Das, R., et al. (2016). Impact of heat stress on health and performance of dairy animals.
- Godde, C.M., et al. (2021). Impacts of climate change on the livestock food supply chain.
- United Nations Development Programme (2022). Feed, fodder and forage production and storage.
- World Bank (2022). Livestock and climate change: A global perspective.
