The average meat consumption has increased significantly over the last 50 years due to economic development, urbanization, and a growing preference for animal-based protein (ABP) diets. This shift has led to negative environmental impacts, including increased carbon dioxide emissions and other factors associated with climate change. The rising meat consumption is expected to continue, particularly in the U.S., where it is projected to increase by 1 percent annually through 2023. This has prompted calls for a shift towards healthier diets and plant-based foods to reduce the environmental and climate footprints associated with meat production. One noticeable difference lies in the hectares of land required for meat production compared to non-meat products, with meat production generally requiring more land and resources, contributing to environmental pressures such as deforestation and habitat loss.

Sources

Meat consumption: Which are the current global risks? A review of recent (2010–2020) evidences - PMC - NCBIFact check: How bad is eating meat for the climate? - DWWorld meat consumption patterns: An overview of the last fifty years (1961–2011)Meat Consumption in the U.S.: Is It Increasing or Decreasing? - Sentient MediaMeat Consumption and Sustainability | Annual Review of Resource EconomicsChanging Meat Consumption & CO2 Emissions - Nebraska Farm Bureau

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