South Korea Meat Consumption Linked to High Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new report reveals that meat consumption in South Korea generated nearly 57 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2024. This footprint is roughly 34 percent of the annual emissions produced by the country's coal fired power plants, driven largely by a high per capita intake of beef. Researchers highlight that beef is the primary driver, producing over ten times the emissions of chicken per kilogram. The study calls for a standardized national life cycle database to better track emissions from processing and distribution, which are often omitted from farm level data.