In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, episode #2223, host Joe Rogan and tech mogul Elon Musk dismissed concerns about the environmental impact of meat consumption, claiming that eating fewer steaks is "irrelevant" to global warming.
Joe Rogan and Elon Musk claiming that eating fewer steaks is "irrelevant" to climate change, that's simply not true
Rogan and Musk’s opinions are loud and influential, yet they go head-to-head with science.
As popular figures, their opinions hold significant influence over their millions of listeners, who are already echoing their claims online. Here are some key points showing why minimising meat consumption is indeed relevant—and necessary—to addressing climate change.
Meat and Climate Change facts:
- Meat and dairy products generate twice as much global greenhouse gases as those of plant-based foods.
- Agriculture is the #1 cause of deforestation, with forests being cleared for grazing cattle and animal feed production.
- Climate researchers are warning us that the world cannot meet its Paris Agreement climate goals of limiting global warming to 1.5°C without reducing meat consumption.
- The science states that between 11.1 and 19.6% of global emissions come from meat and dairy production. Leading climate scientists recommend we reduce meat consumption in favour of a plant-rich diet. It is better for people, animals and the planet.
We need to listen to the evidence on this, not podcasters.
The window for action is closing. Every year of delay pushes us closer to environmental disaster.
In the end, the science is clear: shifting to plant-based diets benefits people, animals, and the planet. Rogan and Musk are free to discussion, but the facts remain—our diet choices directly drive greenhouse gas emissions, with meat and dairy as major contributors. Embracing plant-rich diets isn’t about preference or propaganda; it’s a crucial step toward a sustainable future.
