Scientists criticise UN agency’s failure to withdraw livestock emissions report

The emissions savings from farming less livestock were underestimated by a factor of between six and 40, Mr Hayek estimated.

More than 20 scientific experts have written to the UN’s food agency, expressing shock at its failure to revise or withdraw a livestock emissions report that two of its cited academics have said contained “multiple and egregious errors”.

The alleged inaccuracies are understood to have downplayed the potential of dietary change to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases, which make up about a quarter of total human-caused emissions and mostly derive from livestock.