Des Moines, IA — The top ten Democrat Candidates for President took the opportunity to speak out against climate change during the 22nd Annual Steak Fry held at the State Fairgrounds this past weekend. The event, hosted by the Iowa Cattle Ranchers Association and the Petroleum Institute of America, has been “at the forefront of the climate change discussions for over 50 years,” according to the event website.
Formerly the Harkin Steak Fry until former Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) retired in 2014, the folksy event offers the same chance for candidates, who flip steaks, hug attendees and snap selfies to get voters in their camp ahead of the caucus. The attendance represents 7% of the number of registered Democrats who took part in the 2016 caucus.
The candidates, who included front runners Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders, each took the stage to ask the Iowan attendees for their vote, and to discuss climate change.
“Yes, I think my climate plan is aggressive enough,” said former Vice President Joe Biden answering a question from Fox News while chomping on a well-done rib eye. “It’s gotten good reviews from most of the environmental community,” adding he’d like to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 but “I’ve known no scientists that say it’s able to be done right now.”
The global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all cars, planes, trains, and ships combined, but a worldwide survey by Ipsos MORI in the report finds twice as many people think transport is the more significant contributor to global warming. A recent report builds on recent scientific studies that show that soaring meat demand in China and elsewhere could tip the world’s climate into chaos.
Emissions from livestock, primarily from burping cows and sheep and their manure, currently make up almost 15% of global emissions. Beef and dairy alone make up 65% of all livestock emissions, according to various peer-reviewed studies.
