Who Are the Real Climate Polluters in Our Food System? with Matthew Hayek

Attributing responsibility for greenhouse emissions across complex food systems is not trivial. Foods all have embodied emissions in their lifecycle, but a long supply chain of actors are responsible for producing, distributing, and adding value to these commodities. Additionally, responsibility for emissions is a separate but overlapping concern from who has the responsibility and power to reduce, mitigate, or reverse these climate emissions. In this talk, moderated by LEAP Executive Director Viveca Morris, New York University Professor Matthew Hayek will demystify the scientific attribution of climate emissions to commodities in our food system, particularly for animal-sourced foods like meat and dairy, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. He will then discuss the legal responsibilities for environmental harms and their mitigation.