Thread by @Sentient_Media

This year's UN climate conference runs from November 6-18, bringing together leaders to take action toward global climate goals.

Today, we explore how livestock lobby groups like @GRSBeef and @USDairyExporter work to undermine efforts to reduce methane emissions at #COP27. 1/11

Livestock lobbyists are showing up with unprecedented visibility at #COP27.

@FawcettAtkinson reports on @GRSBeef, @CanCattle and @dfc_plc working to convince COP27 attendees that meat can be a climate solution via @NatObserver. 2/11
nationalobserver.com/2022/11/10/new…

The @GRSBeef is a multi-stakeholder initiative developed "to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain."

Its members include:

@McDonalds
@BurgerKing
@JBS_oficial
@TysonFoods
@Cargill
3/11
linkedin.com/company/global…

The @GRSBeef is hosting two events at #COP27 and speaking at two more.

One of these events is hosted by @USDairyExporter on November 12 and titled: “Sustainable Livestock: Part of the Solution to the Climate Crisis.” @DroversCTN 4/11
drovers.com/news/industry/…

On November 17, @GRSBeef is hosting a panel titled "Towards Sustainable Grassland and Livestock Management.”

Speakers include @RuaraidhP, ED of @GRSBeef, and Guillaume Roué, President of the International Meat Secretariat, another meat lobby group. 5/11
farmersreviewafrica.com/global-roundta…

Meat lobbyists at #COP27 are likely to urge leaders to use GWP* to measure beef emissions.

The adoption of this scale would push policy towards avoiding new sources of methane whilst rewarding even small overall reductions. @zdboren reports via @UE. 6/11
unearthed.greenpeace.org/2022/03/09/glo…

This year, @GRSBeef ED @RuaraidhP said that using GWP*:
"one could also claim [that Australian and US beef farmers] are not adding to climate change" because "no additional warming is taking place." @Beef_Central 7/11
beefcentral.com/carbon/as-dema…

Experts criticize using GWP* for measuring livestock emissions because the metric does not consider carbon opportunity costs.

For instance, when forests convert to farmland, they are no longer able to sequester carbon. @jennysplitter via @undarkmag. 8/11
undark.org/2021/02/03/bee…

While methane has a shorter lifetime than CO2, it is much more powerful at warming.

Slashing #methane emissions now would have a cooling effect in the near future, which would give the world more time to implement other climate measures. @fionaharvey 9/11
theguardian.com/environment/20…

"The call to stop farming animals should be as familiar as the call to leave #FossilFuels in the ground."

@GeorgeMonbiot calls out meat lobbyists and leaders at #COP27 for failing to address the devastating climate impact of animal agriculture. 10/11
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

At Sentient Media, we strive to create transparency around the underreported issues of animal agriculture.

If you'd like to learn how to better report on food system issues, consider joining our Writers' Collective. 11/11 #writerscommunity
sentientmedia.org/writers-collec…