Meat Recipes Still Dominate ‘Climate Conscious’ Media Outlets, Study Finds

A recent investigation found that many media outlets focused on climate change are still largely featuring meat-based recipes, despite the well-established connection between animal agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions. The study analyzed the recipe sections of eight major news outlets and found that more than half of the recipes were meat-based, with only a few outlets prioritizing plant-based options. This discrepancy highlights a gap between climate reporting and recipe suggestions, as plant-based diets are considered one of the most effective ways to reduce GHG emissions.

The report suggests several simple "behavioral nudges" that recipe sections could take to align recipes with climate science, such as maintaining a ratio of at least 2-to-1 for plant-based versus animal-based recipes and presenting plant-based options first by default. While some outlets, like the Guardian, have made progress in featuring more plant-based recipes, others, like the New York Times, have yet to prioritize vegan options. By making these shifts towards plant-based recipes, media outlets can help demonstrate to readers how easy it is to choose climate-friendly food options.