Four in 10 Scientists Don’t Eat Meat Out of Climate Change Concerns, and A Third Are Ready to Give It Up

Almost three-quarters of scientists around the world either follow mostly meat-free diets or are willing to go vegan/vegetarian out of concern for the climate, a new survey has found.

Nearly all global scientists (96%) believe climate change is caused by humans, 83% of whom are worried “quite a bit” or “a great deal” by the crisis, according to a large-scale survey led by the University of Amsterdam.

Researchers polled 9,220 academics from 115 countries from a variety of disciplines and across all career stages. Concern for the climate crisis has prompted a majority of them to change their lifestyles and engage in advocacy, with many willing to do so in the future.

Published in the Nature Climate Change journal, the study found that 39% of scientists follow a mostly plant-based diet, while another 32% indicated a willingness to give up meat, highlighting how academics are concerned about the impact of animal agriculture on the planet.

Livestock farming is responsible for up to 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions, 10 times more than the aviation sector. The overall food system, meanwhile, accounts for a third of emissions, 60% of which comes from producing meat.

Scientists and climate experts have hailed vegan diets as a highly effective way to reduce consumption-related emissions. One study has found that going vegan cuts emissions, water pollution and land use by 75%, while another has suggested that even replacing 50% of meat intake with plant-based analogues has the potential to double climate benefits and halt deforestation.

“Climate change is an existential threat to humanity,” said study lead Fabian Dablander. “To secure a liveable future, each of us needs to ask ourselves: how can I best contribute at this crucial moment in human history?”

Personal behaviours – not tech – will solve climate change, say scientists

Most of the scientists surveyed (84%) think significant changes in personal behaviour and lifestyle are needed to tackle the climate crisis. But only a quarter (27%) believe technological advancements will “largely solve climate change” – in fact, 44% disagree.

Apart from eating more plant-based and less meat, there are several other shifts these academics have made to have a tangible impact on curbing global warming. These include reducing the use of cars (a change made by 69% of scientists), flying less (51%), increasing energy efficiency at home or shifting to renewable energy (46%), and having fewer children (36%).

Of the scientists who haven’t made these changes, there was a broad willingness to do so, especially in terms of embracing green energy (52%), cutting back on flying (34%), and using cars less (25%).

The research also found that 68% of academics feel an individual responsibility to help reduce climate change, and 51% say scientists should get more involved in advocacy.

Many have already engaged in activism, by talking more about climate change (78%), donating to relevant organisations (31%), and participating in legal protests (23%). However, they are divided over whether engaging in legal protests diminishes scientists’ credibility – while 35% believe this is not the case, 42% are unsure.

What it will take for scientists to become climate advocates

The researchers looked at what prompted scientists to engage in climate advocacy and protests, finding several intellectual and practical barriers hindering them from doing so.

The intellectual hurdles include low levels of knowledge or worry about climate change, doubts about the effectiveness of activism, and believing that isn’t scientists’ role to protest. Ideological and strategic disagreements with activists were also key issues.

In terms of practical barriers, scientists fear a loss of credibility, a perception of having an unsuitable personality, and repercussions of protesting. They also cited not having an activist in their inner circle and a lack of skill for advocacy as factors that keep them away from engaging in such activities.

To be willing to engage, the study suggests academics need to overcome mostly the intellectual barriers. But to actually engage, institutional reform is recommended – think more time, funding and support for scientists to engage with society, and normalising or rewarding climate action. this could also help reduce academics’ carbon footprint, if norms around travel and event organisations are changed.

Most of the survey’s respondents (91%) agreed that fundamental changes are required in the world’s social, political and economic systems to truly tackle climate change.

“Governments and corporations continue to make empty promises that downplay the level of transformation that is required to prevent climate breakdown,’ said Adam Aron, a co-author of the study.

“This study makes clear that scientists from all disciplines are very worried and are calling for this fundamental transformation. I hope it helps wake people up and get engaged – more and more scientists are.”

The research comes a few months after a survey of 380 climate scientists – all part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – found that only 6% believe we’ll meet our 1.5°C goal, with more experts feeling we’ll breach postindustrial temperatures of 4°C by 2100.