Background
The Protein PACT (People, Animals, Climate, Together) is a U.S-led global meat sector initiative spearheaded by the U.S meat industry group the Meat Institute and launched in July 2021.1“Uniting Feed and Animal Protein Production Through the Protein PACT,” American Feed Industry Association, December 9, 2021. Archived July 22, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qVhH3 Founding members include other powerful U.S meat industry groups including the Animal Agriculture Alliance and the National Pork Producers Council.2“Who we are,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qSIt4
The PACT’s 2021 pre-launch document states that the organisation’s mission is to “ensure stakeholders, decision-makers, and ultimately consumers trust that meat, dairy, and eggs are part of solutions for diverse, healthy, sustainable diets”.3“Red Flag Consulting,” DeSmog. Archived January 22, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/YMn7x
In a presentation for the October 2023 Protein PACT Summit in San Diego, Melissa San Miguel, a lead consultant for the public relations company Red Flag described how the Protein PACT “deploys partner messaging and activates a wide range of diverse, respected experts” to “inform and persuade key audiences” including “global climate negotiators.”4“Communications updates, Protein PACT Summit, October 2023,” North American Meat Institute, October 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archived February 21, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wsfHx,5“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
The Protein PACT takes a leading role in representing the meat sector at key climate fora such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate summits and New York Climate Weeks.6Comments from Eric Mittenthal at the Protein PACT 2024 Summit. Audio and transcript available on request at DeSmog. It has coordinated efforts with other groups to present meat as a “solution” to climate change, and to discourage policymakers efforts to introduce binding regulations of the meat sector based on its environmental impacts.7Rachel Sherrington. “Big Meat Unveils Battle Plans for COP28,” DeSmog, November 29, 2023. Archived March 20, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/pGum3
The PACT focuses on encouraging its members to set environmental targets and presents this as a pillar of its action on sustainability. However, targets set by its members do not require the absolute or ambitious reductions to livestock emissions that climate scientists say are needed in the short term to meet Paris Agreement goals.8“Goals & Progress,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/UVS4m, 9“Options for a Paris-Compliant Livestock Sector,” Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program Harvard Law School, March 2024. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog.
In a profile written about the organisation in 2023, the independent news outletSentient Media referred to Protein PACT as “the latest tactic to downplay meat’s climate impact.”10Jenny Splitter. “What You Need to Know About the Meat Industry-Funded ‘Protein Pact’,” Sentient Media, September 19, 2023. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/HyxHU It listed tactics including funding dieticians and social media influencers, and funding academic research to convince citizens of the necessity and sustainability of meat consumptions.11Jenny Splitter. “What You Need to Know About the Meat Industry-Funded ‘Protein Pact’,” Sentient Media, September 19, 2023. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/HyxHU
In counter to this view, the Protein PACT’s lead spokesperson, Eric Mittenthal, has argued that those calling for “drastic reductions” in meat production are “not supported by evidence”12“Reflections on COP28,” The Protein PACT, December 19, 2023. Archived July 29, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/zB2eJ and emphasised the PACT’s role in both setting targets and driving progress in the areas of sustainability, animal welfare and health.
In addition to its members, the PACT also has endorcements from a number of international groups representing the industry, including the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, European Livestock Voice and receives communications assistance from the PR and lobbying firm Red Flag.13“Who we are,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qSIt4, 14“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp, 15“Who we are,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qSIt4, 16“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp, 17“NAMI: Animal agriculture organizations launch ambitious new Protein PACT,” Pig333.com. Archived September 16, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/iXdlg
Stance on climate change
Protein PACT focuses on persuading consumers and other key stakeholders that the meat industry is environmentally friendly.
For example, the ProteinPact’s launch document states: “Animal protein and feed producers and processors must urgently articulate a compelling case for how choosing meat, dairy, and eggs aligns with “values such as sustainability.”18Rachel Sherrington. “Protein-PACT launch two pager for partners,” Protein PACT, 2021. Archived August 21, 2021. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
A summary of the initial plan for the Protein PACT, shared in a November 2021 newsletter from the state-sponsored industry group the Cattle Producers of Louisiana, stated the PACT’s goal to make sure “consumers feel as good and justified in choosing to eat meat as non-meat-eaters feel about their dietary choices.”19“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
However, as detailed below, the PACT does not promote absolute emissions targets, instead favouring and reductions in livestock that scientists say are needed to meet climate goals and avoid dangerous tipping points.20Dan Blaustein-Rejto and Chris Gambino, “Livestock Don’t Contribute 14.5% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” The Breathrough Institute, March 20, 2023. Archived July 22, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/hRPzY
As well as being the leading driver of deforestation, which is destroying key carbon sinks, the livestock industry produces an estimated 12-20 percent of global carbon emissions.
It also contributes 32 percent of the world’s methane, a potent greenhouse gas which is responsible for around a third of man-made global heating to date.21Harwatt et al., “Options for a Paris-Compliant Livestock Sector,” 2024. Archived July 6, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Weak targets
The Protein PACT positions voluntary reporting, measurement, and target-setting as a crucial part of its work on the environment. However, targets set by the group and its members contain notable loopholes and do not necessitate significant overall cuts to emissions.22“The Protein PACT: 2025 and Beyond,” YouTube, Meat Institute Channel, November 22, 2024. Archived .mp3 available at DeSmog.
The environmental reporting ProteinPACT asks from its members does not include any need to reduce methane, which the livestock sector drives around a third of and scientists say must be cut by 40 – 45 percent to reach Paris goals.23Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions,” Climate and Clean Air Coalition, 2021. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog.
Nor do they require a reduction in Scope 3 emissions. These emissions — which are the emissions generated from a company’s supply chain overall, make up more than 90 percent of most major meat and dairy companies’ climate footprints.24“The New Merchants of Doubt: How Big Meat and Dairy Avoid Climate Action,” Changing Markets Foundation, 2024. Archived May 2, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
A 2024 survey of more than 200 climate scientists found that the livestock sector will need to reduce emissions by 61 percent by 2036.[27]
The PACT does not appear to have a headline target of its own. However its website advertises the target of the Protein PACT’s lead partner, the Meat Institute, is that “100% of NAMI general members will have delivered an approved Science-Based Target to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement goals”.25“Building from Transparent Baselines: 2023 Continuous Improvement Report,” North American Meat Institute and Protein PACT, October 2023. Archived November 10, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/pHTm3
The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which NAMI’s members will measure targets by,26“The New Merchants of Doubt: How Big Meat and Dairy Avoid Climate Action,” Changing Markets Foundation, 2024. Archived May 2, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. contains significant loopholes for food companies in its guidance. These include allowing companies to count offset towards company emissions goals, which means accreditation by the body does not guarantee that food companies will make significant reductions.27“Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2024,” New Climate, April 9, 2024. Archived March 25, 2025. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 28Joe Fassler. “Research Undermines Claims that Soil Carbon Can Offset Livestock Emissions,” DeSmog, February 1, 2024. Archived June 2, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Tuc7Z
The ProteinPACT website also advertises a target from the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which states the U.S. beef supply chain has committed by 2040 to achieving “climate neutrality”.29“Goals & Progress,” Protein PACT. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/UVS4m
This term is associated with the GWP* metric, a method which focuses on new and growing sources of methane instead of the world’s steady and largest emitters, which use it to claim “climate neutrality” while only marginally reducing emissions.30Rachel Sherrington and Hazel Healy. “A Guide to Six Greenwashing Terms Big Ag Is Bringing to COP28,” DeSmog, September 21, 2023. Archived March 16, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/1P57A, 31Zach Boren. “How the beef is industry is trying to change the maths of climate change,” Unearthed, September 3, 2022. Archived March 28, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/CHO2n Climate scientists have said the meat industry is misleadingly applying the metric to claim less responsibility for its emissions footprint.32Joe Fassler. “The Livestock Industry’s ‘Climate Neutral’ Claims Are Too Good To Be True,” DeSmog, December 14, 2023. Archived March 14, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/auqNs, 33Rachel Sherrington. “Industry -Backed Emissions Metric Could ‘Completely Derail’ Climate Action, Campaigners Warn,” DeSmog, December 6, 2024. Archived February 28, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/G5TKd
In 2023, the Protein PACT’s lead spokesperson, Eric Mittenthal, argued that those calling for “drastic reductions” in meat production are “not supported by evidence”.34“Reflections on COP28,” The Protein PACT, December 19, 2023. Archived July 29, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/zB2eJ In 2021, the EAT-Lancet Commission into sustainable diets found — we should cuts in meat consumption by 50 percent globally — and in all but two regions of the world — in order to feed a growing population while respecting planetary boundaries.35Willet et al., “Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems,” The Lancet, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
A 2024 survey of more than 200 climate experts found that a majority said animal herds should decrease from the year 2025, driven by reductions to herds in high and middle income countries.36Harwatt et al., “Options for a Paris-Compliant Livestock Sector,” 2024. Harvard Law School Animal Law and Policy Program. Archived July 6, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Communication strategies and key audiences
The Protein PACT’s representatives say the group is not a “communications strategy” and prefers to describe itself as a “continuous improvement” strategy via its reporting and target-setting.37Nina Dater. “Protein Pact. Presentation Global Conference on Sustainable Beef, Denver, Colorado,” Red Flag Consulting, November 7, 2022. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/clZMo
However, the PACT’s founder, the Meat Institute’s Chief Strategy Officer, Eric Mittenthal, has clarified that target-setting efforts contribute to a broader narrative role. He states that reporting and target-setting efforts feed into an “industry-wide storytelling effort.”38Kimberly Clima, “In Protein we Trust,” Meat + Poultry, November 21, 2021. Archived January 25, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2Bz0j
Overall, the Protein PACT strongly emphasises on its narrative-setting role, explicitly working to convey its key messages. The PR firm Red Flag helps the initiative to communicate industry talking points to decision-makers, academics, influencers, and other audiences.
At the Global Conference on Sustainable Beef in Denver, Colorado, in November 2022, Red Flag Account Manager Nina Dater described how Red Flag was “ambitiously positioning NAMI, Protein PACT and Protein PACT leaders as thought leaders” to “those who influence policy, science, media, health professionals and our broader industry community.”39Nina Dater. “Protein Pact. Presentation Global Conference on Sustainable Beef, Denver, Colorado,” Red Flag Consulting, November 7, 2022. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/clZMo
More details on key target audiences and messaging strategies deployed by the PACT and Red Flag are outlined below.
Young consumers
A summary of the initial communications plan for the Protein PACT, shared in a November 2021 newsletter from the industry group, the Cattle Producers of Louisiana, shared that the PACT was working with influencers in order to reach younger consumers.40“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
University students are also a target for the PACT’s messaging. At the ProteinPACT summit in 2024, the initiative’s founder, Eric Mittenthal, said it had “focussed a lot of attention in universities” in the past year, to win over younger consumers who are “influenced by what they’re being fed in their cafeterias”.
Protein PACT’s members includes several U.S industry groups and affiliations such as the Animal Agriculture Alliance and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), which have worked with influencers and social media users to target younger consumers in recent years after studies suggested young people are moving away from animal-based products.41Joe Fassler. “Inside big beef’s climate messaging machine: confuse, defend and downplay,” The Guardian, May 3, 2023. Archived March 23, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/RsRFs
Dieticians
Dieticians were highlighted as a “key audience” for the Protein PACT by Red Flag lead consultant Melissa San Miguel at the 2023 Protein PACT Summit in San Diego.42“Lean Trimmings Volume 9, Issue 41,” North American Meat Institute, October 10, 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog., 43“Communications updates, Protein PACT Summit, October 2023,” North American Meat Institute, October 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archived February 21, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wsfHx
At the 2024 Protein PACT Summit, the initiative’s founder, Eric Mittenthal, said the initiative was doing “lots of work” with registered dieticians to “ensure that they understand what they’re communicating to people who have problems with food and that they understand the whole science.”44Comments from Eric Mittenthal at the Protein PACT Summit 2024 in Austin, Texas. Audio file and transcript available at DeSmog.
While the Protein PACT works to position meat as part of a healthy diet,45“The Protein PACT,” Facebook post by user TheProteinPACT, November 26, 2024. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 46“Protein PACT,” Facebook post by user TheProteinPACT, January 10, 2025. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog. major scientific assessments have shown that meat is overconsumed in countries like the U.S., with significant negative impacts on health.47Willet et al. “Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems,” The Lancet, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4 Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog., 48Pan et al. “Red meat consumption and mortality: results from 2 prospective cohort studies,” Archive of Internal Medicine, 2013. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2287. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Studies have found links between the consumption of meat and heart disease, cancers, dementia, and all-cause mortality, and bodies such as the American Heart Association say citizens should lower their consumption – a fact the Protein PACT does not communicate in its materials.49Willet et al. “Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems,” The Lancet, 2019. DOI: DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog., 50Pan et al. “Red meat consumption and mortality: results from 2 prospective cohort studies,” National Institutes of Health, 2013. DOI: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2287. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 51“IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat,” World Health Organization: International Agency for Research on Cancer, October 26, 2015. Archived November 30, 2023. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 52Schwingshackl, et al. “Food groups and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies,” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2017. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.117.153148. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 53Yip, Lam & Fielding. “A summary of meat intakes and health burdens,” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2017. DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.117. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 54Zheng, et al. “Association of changes in red meat consumption with total and cause specific mortality among US women and men: two prospective cohort studies,” BMJ, 2019. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l2110. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog
Protein PACT highlights the nutritional qualities of meat, such as it being a source of protein and iron. However, the initiative’s messaging fails to acknowledge that these nutrients are also provided by many plant-based foods, which scientists have been found to have both climate and health benefits compared to animal source foods.55Springmann. “A multicriteria analysis of meat and milk alternatives from nutritional, health, environmental, and cost perspectives,” PNAS, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2319010121. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Environmental and food systems advocates
The PACT puts gaining credibility with environmentalists and food systems advocates and establishing a presence within international climate fora at the heart of its communications strategy.
For example, after the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Protein PACT founder Eric Mittenthal shared his view that “non-traditional” partnerships with NGOs could help the meat industry be taken seriously.56Rachel Sherrington. “U.S. Meat Lobby Celebrates ‘Positive Outcome’ of COP28,” DeSmog, April 8, 2024. Archived March 2, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/FowmR
Climate negotiators have also been a key audience for the PACT’s messaging, according to the PR company Red Flag’s Melissa San Miguel.57“Lean Trimmings Volume 9, Issue 41,” North American Meat Institute, October 10, 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog., 58“Communications updates, Protein PACT Summit, October 2023,” North American Meat Institute, October 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archived February 21, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wsfHx
Academics
In May 2023, the Protein PACT established a seven-person “academic advisory council” to guide it on “research priorities and the latest evidence related to meat production and consumption.59Ryan McCarthy. “NAMI forms Protein PACT Academic Advisory Council,” Meat+Poultry, May 23, 2023. Archived January 30, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/Fi7im Sentient Media reported that the PACT financially supported these academics and that the PACT was funding research to help with its communications efforts.60Jenny Splitter. “What You Need to Know About the Meat Industry-Funded ‘Protein Pact’,” Sentient Media, September 19, 2023. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/HyxHU
The advisory council includes Baylor University academic Craig Gunderson, who has said the idea that meat consumption is unhealthy is “crazy” and based on “no evidence.”61“Alleviating Food Insecurity in the USA: The critical role of meat Food Insecurity Solutions and Impact of Regulations,” Societal Role of Meat conference, October 31, 2024, Colorado State University, Colorado. Recording and notes on file at DeSmog.
This statement contradicts substantial scientific evidence on the health impacts of red and processed meat.62“IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat,” World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer, October 26, 2015. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 63Schwingshackl, et al. “Food groups and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies,” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2017. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.117.153148. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 64CSC Yip, W. Lam & R. Fielding. “A summary of meat intakes and health burdens,” Nature.com, August 9, 2017. Archived January 13, 2023. Archive URL: http://archive.today/DXZ2h, 65Zheng, et al. “Association of changes in red meat consumption with total and cause specific mortality among US women and men: two prospective cohort studies,” BMJ, 2019. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.l2110. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 66Stanton, et al. “36-fold higher estimate of deaths attributable to red meat intake in GBD 2019: is this reliable?,” The Lancet, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00311-7 External Link. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog., 67Christopher J L Murray. “36-fold higher estimate of deaths attributable to red meat intake in GBD 2019: is this reliable? – Author’s reply,” Pub Med NCBI NLM NIH, April 2, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00518-9. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Investors
At the Protein PACT Summit 2024, Mittenthal shared that the “investor community” was “another one that we’ve been more and more engaged with this year” with a presence at the Green Fin Conference.”68Sarah Novak. “Bridging the Gap: Bringing Agriculture into the Green Finance Conversation,” American Feed Industry Association, June 20, 2024. Archived November 11, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/VYyQM , 69Comments from Eric Mittenthal at the 2024 Protein PACT Summit. Transcript available on request.
At the Protein PACT 2024 Summit, Sam Wildman, the Meat Institute’s Director of Strategic Projects, said “investor relations education” was an important part of the PACT’s strategy – to illustrate that meat is a “trusted partner in the supply chain.”
Funding
The Protein PACT website does not provide details of its funding. However, according to LinkedIn, Eric Mittenthal managed to recruit $1 million in partnership funding for “strategic communications” to support his work on the initiative.70“Eric Mittenthal,” LinkedIn, Accessed April 4, 2025. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog.
Affiliations
Partners
- Animal Agriculture Alliance
- Beef Alliance
- Dairy Management Inc
- Elanco
- IFEEDER
- Leather & Hide Council of America
- National Corn Growers Association
- PIC
- US Pork Board
- National Pork Producers Council
- Meat Institute
- United Soybean Board
- US Meat Export Federation
- US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
- US Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry and Eggs
Industry Sponsors (Reference: https://theproteinpact.org/who-we-are/)
- Amcor
- Bayer
- Bunzl
- Corbion
- Environ
- Eurofins
- FlexXray
- Food Production Solutions Association (FPSA)
- FSNS
- Hawkins
- Infor
- Intralox
- Jarvis
- Lucid Corp
- Multivac
- Neogen
- Pinion
- US Manufacturers of Recycled Paper
- Reiser Built on Trust
- SEE
- Trade Café
- Wells Fargo
- Wow Logistics
Protein PACT Endorsers (Reference: https://theproteinpact.org/who-we-are/)
- AFCO
- American Frozen Food Institute
- Animal Health Institute
- American Meat Science Association
- American Veal Association
- Canadian Meat Council
- Carni Sostenibli
- Consejo Mexicano de la Carne
- Corn Refiners Association
- Consumer Brand Association
- Decade of Ag
- European Livestock Voice
- Feeding America
- The Food Industry Association
- FSNS
- Food Production Solutions Association (FPSA)
- Fulton Market Group
- Global Cold Chain Alliance
- Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
- Grundfos
- IICA
- Kerry
- Marcus Technologies
- Meat Foundation
- Mexican Beef
- Multivac
- NASDA
- NCCR
- National Institute for Animal Agriculture
- National Milk Producers Federation
- National Retail Federation
- North American Renderers Association
- Phibro – Animal Health Corporation
- Solutions from the Land
- Sustainable Environmental Consultants
- Trust in Food – a Farm Journal Initiative
- US Dairy Export Council
- WMIN
Other affiliations
- Red Flag
- Frank Mitloehner
- Dublin Declaration
Resources
- 1“Uniting Feed and Animal Protein Production Through the Protein PACT,” American Feed Industry Association, December 9, 2021. Archived July 22, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qVhH3
- 2
- 3
- 4“Communications updates, Protein PACT Summit, October 2023,” North American Meat Institute, October 2023. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. Archived February 21, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/wsfHx
- 5“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
- 6Comments from Eric Mittenthal at the Protein PACT 2024 Summit. Audio and transcript available on request at DeSmog.
- 7Rachel Sherrington. “Big Meat Unveils Battle Plans for COP28,” DeSmog, November 29, 2023. Archived March 20, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/pGum3
- 8“Goals & Progress,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/UVS4m
- 9“Options for a Paris-Compliant Livestock Sector,” Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program Harvard Law School, March 2024. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog.
- 10Jenny Splitter. “What You Need to Know About the Meat Industry-Funded ‘Protein Pact’,” Sentient Media, September 19, 2023. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/HyxHU
- 11Jenny Splitter. “What You Need to Know About the Meat Industry-Funded ‘Protein Pact’,” Sentient Media, September 19, 2023. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/HyxHU
- 12“Reflections on COP28,” The Protein PACT, December 19, 2023. Archived July 29, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/zB2eJ
- 13“Who we are,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qSIt4
- 14“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
- 15“Who we are,” Protein PACT. Archived December 19, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/qSIt4
- 16“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
- 17“NAMI: Animal agriculture organizations launch ambitious new Protein PACT,” Pig333.com. Archived September 16, 2024. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/iXdlg
- 18Rachel Sherrington. “Protein-PACT launch two pager for partners,” Protein PACT, 2021. Archived August 21, 2021. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 19“Feedlot Numbers Down but Plentiful Currently, Cow Country Report,” Cattle Producers Of Louisiana, November 1, 2021. Archived February 8, 2022. Archive URL: https://archive.is/JnTtp
- 20Dan Blaustein-Rejto and Chris Gambino, “Livestock Don’t Contribute 14.5% of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” The Breathrough Institute, March 20, 2023. Archived July 22, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/hRPzY
- 21Harwatt et al., “Options for a Paris-Compliant Livestock Sector,” 2024. Archived July 6, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 22“The Protein PACT: 2025 and Beyond,” YouTube, Meat Institute Channel, November 22, 2024. Archived .mp3 available at DeSmog.
- 23Global Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions,” Climate and Clean Air Coalition, 2021. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog.
- 24“The New Merchants of Doubt: How Big Meat and Dairy Avoid Climate Action,” Changing Markets Foundation, 2024. Archived May 2, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 25“Building from Transparent Baselines: 2023 Continuous Improvement Report,” North American Meat Institute and Protein PACT, October 2023. Archived November 10, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/pHTm3
- 26“The New Merchants of Doubt: How Big Meat and Dairy Avoid Climate Action,” Changing Markets Foundation, 2024. Archived May 2, 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 27“Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2024,” New Climate, April 9, 2024. Archived March 25, 2025. Archived .pdf available at DeSmog.
- 28Joe Fassler. “Research Undermines Claims that Soil Carbon Can Offset Livestock Emissions,” DeSmog, February 1, 2024. Archived June 2, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Tuc7Z
- 29“Goals & Progress,” Protein PACT. Archived March 25, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/UVS4m
- 30Rachel Sherrington and Hazel Healy. “A Guide to Six Greenwashing Terms Big Ag Is Bringing to COP28,” DeSmog, September 21, 2023. Archived March 16, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/1P57A
- 31Zach Boren. “How the beef is industry is trying to change the maths of climate change,” Unearthed, September 3, 2022. Archived March 28, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/CHO2n
- 32Joe Fassler. “The Livestock Industry’s ‘Climate Neutral’ Claims Are Too Good To Be True,” DeSmog, December 14, 2023. Archived March 14, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/auqNs
- 33Rachel Sherrington. “Industry -Backed Emissions Metric Could ‘Completely Derail’ Climate Action, Campaigners Warn,” DeSmog, December 6, 2024. Archived February 28, 2025. Archive URL: http://archive.today/G5TKd
- 34“Reflections on COP28,” The Protein PACT, December 19, 2023. Archived July 29, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/zB2eJ
- 35Willet et al., “Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems,” The Lancet, 2019. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
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