Nicholas D Carter
@nicholasdcarter.bsky.social
🌳 Director of Environmental Science at Game Changers 2.
🌎 Research Fellow at Project Drawdown: climate solutions focused on food, agriculture & land.
🌱 Co-founder of iffs.earth
🌎 Research Fellow at Project Drawdown: climate solutions focused on food, agriculture & land.
🌱 Co-founder of iffs.earth
Pinned
My latest, drawing from 100+ studies:
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
I completely agree with this analysis by Project Dradown, which also had the good taste to include our papers among its references!
Very good summary on their part. 👏
Very good summary on their part. 👏
Considering the challenge in suggesting we eat more plants, proposing insect products seems ridiculous.
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
February 8, 2026 at 12:18 PM
I completely agree with this analysis by Project Dradown, which also had the good taste to include our papers among its references!
Very good summary on their part. 👏
Very good summary on their part. 👏
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Wow, interesting. 🤯
"However, recent analyses show highly variable and often high life cycle emissions, 4.2–25.8 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of protein for insects as human food, with the upper end of this range approaching the lower bound for beef."
"However, recent analyses show highly variable and often high life cycle emissions, 4.2–25.8 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of protein for insects as human food, with the upper end of this range approaching the lower bound for beef."
Considering the challenge in suggesting we eat more plants, proposing insect products seems ridiculous.
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
February 6, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Wow, interesting. 🤯
"However, recent analyses show highly variable and often high life cycle emissions, 4.2–25.8 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of protein for insects as human food, with the upper end of this range approaching the lower bound for beef."
"However, recent analyses show highly variable and often high life cycle emissions, 4.2–25.8 kg CO₂‑eq per kg of protein for insects as human food, with the upper end of this range approaching the lower bound for beef."
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Currently, half of farmed insects end up in the pet food market, and only a few percent of total production goes to direct human consumption. In practice, it mostly replaces already low-impact plant ingredients, not high-emission animal products.
Considering the challenge in suggesting we eat more plants, proposing insect products seems ridiculous.
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
February 6, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Currently, half of farmed insects end up in the pet food market, and only a few percent of total production goes to direct human consumption. In practice, it mostly replaces already low-impact plant ingredients, not high-emission animal products.
Considering the challenge in suggesting we eat more plants, proposing insect products seems ridiculous.
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
February 6, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Considering the challenge in suggesting we eat more plants, proposing insect products seems ridiculous.
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
But it's received $1B to try to scale & now ~80B insects are farmed.
It can actually emit as much as some beef & has major risks.
My first in the Drawdown Explorer:
drawdown.org/explorer/dep...
US beef is underestimated by ~6x if factoring in the missed opportunity to rewild & restore the land used for its production.
And according to this new WRI report, implementing EVERY existing & breakthrough mitigation tech would only reduce US beef carbon costs by 18%:
www.wri.org/insights/tru...
And according to this new WRI report, implementing EVERY existing & breakthrough mitigation tech would only reduce US beef carbon costs by 18%:
www.wri.org/insights/tru...
January 19, 2026 at 1:33 PM
US beef is underestimated by ~6x if factoring in the missed opportunity to rewild & restore the land used for its production.
And according to this new WRI report, implementing EVERY existing & breakthrough mitigation tech would only reduce US beef carbon costs by 18%:
www.wri.org/insights/tru...
And according to this new WRI report, implementing EVERY existing & breakthrough mitigation tech would only reduce US beef carbon costs by 18%:
www.wri.org/insights/tru...
Animal agriculture is the single largest use of Earth's land.
Yet it's rarely mentioned in eco reporting: only 1% of climate journalism even mentions diet change.
Based on 10,696 U.S. climate articles (2022–2025):
www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/pop... @biologicaldiversity.org
Yet it's rarely mentioned in eco reporting: only 1% of climate journalism even mentions diet change.
Based on 10,696 U.S. climate articles (2022–2025):
www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/pop... @biologicaldiversity.org
January 17, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Animal agriculture is the single largest use of Earth's land.
Yet it's rarely mentioned in eco reporting: only 1% of climate journalism even mentions diet change.
Based on 10,696 U.S. climate articles (2022–2025):
www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/pop... @biologicaldiversity.org
Yet it's rarely mentioned in eco reporting: only 1% of climate journalism even mentions diet change.
Based on 10,696 U.S. climate articles (2022–2025):
www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/pop... @biologicaldiversity.org
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
While countries are making progress at measuring & mitigating methane from fossil fuels, we need to increase our efforts in curbing methane from livestock, rice, & food waste.
@paul-west.bsky.social and I explain in our latest article @projectdrawdown.bsky.social drawdown.org/insights/we-...
@paul-west.bsky.social and I explain in our latest article @projectdrawdown.bsky.social drawdown.org/insights/we-...
January 15, 2026 at 8:20 PM
While countries are making progress at measuring & mitigating methane from fossil fuels, we need to increase our efforts in curbing methane from livestock, rice, & food waste.
@paul-west.bsky.social and I explain in our latest article @projectdrawdown.bsky.social drawdown.org/insights/we-...
@paul-west.bsky.social and I explain in our latest article @projectdrawdown.bsky.social drawdown.org/insights/we-...
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
What better way to end 2025 than getting our paper published in Global Environmental Change 🥳💚
We studied perceptions of the feasibility of climate-relevant behavior change and how these perceptions connect to income differences and climate policy support.
Let me tell you all about it🧵👇
We studied perceptions of the feasibility of climate-relevant behavior change and how these perceptions connect to income differences and climate policy support.
Let me tell you all about it🧵👇
December 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
What better way to end 2025 than getting our paper published in Global Environmental Change 🥳💚
We studied perceptions of the feasibility of climate-relevant behavior change and how these perceptions connect to income differences and climate policy support.
Let me tell you all about it🧵👇
We studied perceptions of the feasibility of climate-relevant behavior change and how these perceptions connect to income differences and climate policy support.
Let me tell you all about it🧵👇
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Our future food system will be very different. By design or by disaster. Much of the choice is ours
If we get it right, everyone wins. Healthier diets and communities, more nature, higher productivity, stable(r) climate, etc...
My speech: @nebriefing.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjJ...
If we get it right, everyone wins. Healthier diets and communities, more nature, higher productivity, stable(r) climate, etc...
My speech: @nebriefing.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjJ...
Food Security - Professor Paul Behrens | National Emergency Briefing
YouTube video by The National Emergency Briefing
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Our future food system will be very different. By design or by disaster. Much of the choice is ours
If we get it right, everyone wins. Healthier diets and communities, more nature, higher productivity, stable(r) climate, etc...
My speech: @nebriefing.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjJ...
If we get it right, everyone wins. Healthier diets and communities, more nature, higher productivity, stable(r) climate, etc...
My speech: @nebriefing.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjJ...
"Soil is one of the Earth’s most important yet least understood ecosystems...Yet over 75% of the world’s soils are now degraded, threatening food security, ecosystems, and climate stability."
Amazing to see this launched! I learned brief details a year ago when I met @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Amazing to see this launched! I learned brief details a year ago when I met @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 10:14 PM
"Soil is one of the Earth’s most important yet least understood ecosystems...Yet over 75% of the world’s soils are now degraded, threatening food security, ecosystems, and climate stability."
Amazing to see this launched! I learned brief details a year ago when I met @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Amazing to see this launched! I learned brief details a year ago when I met @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
We need a plant-based food system:
In a study asking 200 leading climate & food-system scientists (1/2 IPCC authors), livestock GHGs & herd sizes must peak now & fall ~60% by 2036
85% agreed that major shifts plant-based are essential, esp in rich countries
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
In a study asking 200 leading climate & food-system scientists (1/2 IPCC authors), livestock GHGs & herd sizes must peak now & fall ~60% by 2036
85% agreed that major shifts plant-based are essential, esp in rich countries
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
We need a plant-based food system:
In a study asking 200 leading climate & food-system scientists (1/2 IPCC authors), livestock GHGs & herd sizes must peak now & fall ~60% by 2036
85% agreed that major shifts plant-based are essential, esp in rich countries
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
In a study asking 200 leading climate & food-system scientists (1/2 IPCC authors), livestock GHGs & herd sizes must peak now & fall ~60% by 2036
85% agreed that major shifts plant-based are essential, esp in rich countries
animal.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/u...
Definitely the upcoming book I’m most keen to read, top of the list for me after getting to know Jan and Gabriel’s work and skills over the years.
Pre-order: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jan-d...
Pre-order: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jan-d...
November 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Definitely the upcoming book I’m most keen to read, top of the list for me after getting to know Jan and Gabriel’s work and skills over the years.
Pre-order: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jan-d...
Pre-order: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jan-d...
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Another one bites the dust. Two weeks after JBS settled a false advertising lawsuit with the NYAG to stop making "net zero" claims, Tyson has just settled in D.C. about its own "net zero" claims. There is no such thing as low-emissions or carbon-neutral cattle.
aldf.org/article/tyso...
aldf.org/article/tyso...
Tyson Foods Agrees to Stop Making 'Net-zero' and 'Climate-smart Beef' Claims
Lawsuit alleged Tyson Foods falsely claimed it will be net-zero by 2050 and marketed its industrial beef products as “climate-smart”
aldf.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Another one bites the dust. Two weeks after JBS settled a false advertising lawsuit with the NYAG to stop making "net zero" claims, Tyson has just settled in D.C. about its own "net zero" claims. There is no such thing as low-emissions or carbon-neutral cattle.
aldf.org/article/tyso...
aldf.org/article/tyso...
"It didn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of a deliberate and systematic assault on knowledge by some of the richest people on Earth. Preventing climate breakdown means protecting ourselves from the storm of lies."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Dark forces are preventing us fighting the climate crisis – by taking knowledge hostage | George Monbiot
The fundamental problem is this: that most of the means of communication are owned or influenced by the very rich, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM
"It didn’t happen by accident. It’s the product of a deliberate and systematic assault on knowledge by some of the richest people on Earth. Preventing climate breakdown means protecting ourselves from the storm of lies."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
It's a seductive narrative, but is it really an eco solution?
New report from our co-founder @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social on regenerative grazing vs dietary change & rewilding @iffs-earth.bsky.social.
New report from our co-founder @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social on regenerative grazing vs dietary change & rewilding @iffs-earth.bsky.social.
Out now, our launch report!
At COP30 next week dozens of panels will discuss regenerative grazing.
We've compiled the best science on the topic and compared grazing vs. plant-based with rewilding.
At COP30 next week dozens of panels will discuss regenerative grazing.
We've compiled the best science on the topic and compared grazing vs. plant-based with rewilding.
November 15, 2025 at 11:49 PM
It's a seductive narrative, but is it really an eco solution?
New report from our co-founder @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social on regenerative grazing vs dietary change & rewilding @iffs-earth.bsky.social.
New report from our co-founder @nicholasdcarter.bsky.social on regenerative grazing vs dietary change & rewilding @iffs-earth.bsky.social.
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
When big food doesn’t want to talk about cutting emissions — by shifting diets, ending corn ethanol, reducing food waste, protecting forests, or managing fertilizers — they try to distract you.
They say methane “doesn’t count”.
They try to sell “regenerative grazing”.
They try to greenwash.
They say methane “doesn’t count”.
They try to sell “regenerative grazing”.
They try to greenwash.
November 10, 2025 at 10:24 PM
When big food doesn’t want to talk about cutting emissions — by shifting diets, ending corn ethanol, reducing food waste, protecting forests, or managing fertilizers — they try to distract you.
They say methane “doesn’t count”.
They try to sell “regenerative grazing”.
They try to greenwash.
They say methane “doesn’t count”.
They try to sell “regenerative grazing”.
They try to greenwash.
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
When agriculturally degraded land is allowed to rewild, even on its own with no hands-on restoration, carbon stocks and biodiversity loss can often rapidly approach pre-disturbance levels.
My latest, drawing from 100+ studies:
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
November 9, 2025 at 6:48 PM
When agriculturally degraded land is allowed to rewild, even on its own with no hands-on restoration, carbon stocks and biodiversity loss can often rapidly approach pre-disturbance levels.
My latest, drawing from 100+ studies:
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
November 9, 2025 at 12:29 PM
My latest, drawing from 100+ studies:
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Years in the making, I focus on the science behind the grazing side of regenerative agriculture, comparing it with a plant-based food system that enables large-scale rewilding.
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Yet more science showing that regenerative grazing is overblown as a climate solution.
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Living Report: Regenerative Agriculture vs. Rewilding
A comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed evidence on regenerative grazing vs. rewilding through dietary shifts that reduce land use and restore soil, water, climate, and biodiversity
iffs.earth
November 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Yet more science showing that regenerative grazing is overblown as a climate solution.
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
A better path? Cut back on beef production altogether, and return grazing lands to nature.
iffs.earth/living-repor...
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Out now, our launch report!
At COP30 next week dozens of panels will discuss regenerative grazing.
We've compiled the best science on the topic and compared grazing vs. plant-based with rewilding.
At COP30 next week dozens of panels will discuss regenerative grazing.
We've compiled the best science on the topic and compared grazing vs. plant-based with rewilding.
November 8, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Out now, our launch report!
At COP30 next week dozens of panels will discuss regenerative grazing.
We've compiled the best science on the topic and compared grazing vs. plant-based with rewilding.
At COP30 next week dozens of panels will discuss regenerative grazing.
We've compiled the best science on the topic and compared grazing vs. plant-based with rewilding.
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Excited to share what I've been working on @projectdrawdown.bsky.social: A Drawdown Roadmap for Food, Agriculture, and Land Use in Southeast Asia.
Food & land use generate over half of emissions in the region. We identified hotspots of emissions and the most impactful solution for each province.
Food & land use generate over half of emissions in the region. We identified hotspots of emissions and the most impactful solution for each province.
October 31, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Excited to share what I've been working on @projectdrawdown.bsky.social: A Drawdown Roadmap for Food, Agriculture, and Land Use in Southeast Asia.
Food & land use generate over half of emissions in the region. We identified hotspots of emissions and the most impactful solution for each province.
Food & land use generate over half of emissions in the region. We identified hotspots of emissions and the most impactful solution for each province.
Eight arguments agribusiness will likely use at COP30 to create confusion or fully deny their responsibility for environmental harm:
www.desmog.com/2025/10/26/b... @rachelsherrington.bsky.social
www.desmog.com/2025/10/26/b... @rachelsherrington.bsky.social
Look Out for These 8 Big Ag Greenwashing Terms at COP30
Food and farming companies will claim agriculture is the solution to the climate crisis at the Brazil summit — even though the sector drives a third of global warming.
www.desmog.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Eight arguments agribusiness will likely use at COP30 to create confusion or fully deny their responsibility for environmental harm:
www.desmog.com/2025/10/26/b... @rachelsherrington.bsky.social
www.desmog.com/2025/10/26/b... @rachelsherrington.bsky.social
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
A new study from U of Michigan researchers finds that the diet footprint of cities varies by 3x, primarily driven by variation in where & how beef is sourced & produced. I'm skeptical though, and think that their methods exaggerated real world variation 🧵 1/N www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Column | Your diet’s impact on the planet depends on where you live. Look up your city.
What you eat, and where you eat it, can have a big impact on how much you’re contributing to climate change, according to a study published Monday.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 21, 2025 at 5:46 PM
A new study from U of Michigan researchers finds that the diet footprint of cities varies by 3x, primarily driven by variation in where & how beef is sourced & produced. I'm skeptical though, and think that their methods exaggerated real world variation 🧵 1/N www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
I was quoted about New Zealand's rowing back of ambition on methane in Bloomberg this week:
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
To explain why New Zealand’s new methane target puts the Global Methane Pledge (and ultimately climate targets) at risk. 🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
To explain why New Zealand’s new methane target puts the Global Methane Pledge (and ultimately climate targets) at risk. 🧵
www.bloomberg.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I was quoted about New Zealand's rowing back of ambition on methane in Bloomberg this week:
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
To explain why New Zealand’s new methane target puts the Global Methane Pledge (and ultimately climate targets) at risk. 🧵
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
To explain why New Zealand’s new methane target puts the Global Methane Pledge (and ultimately climate targets) at risk. 🧵
Reposted by Nicholas D Carter
Wrote a lot of words on SOYBEANS!🫛 I love having this job so much lol
America should have greater ambitions for the soybean—treating it not just as slop for the world’s abused livestock, but as a miracle technology with the potential to reshape world diets for the better
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
America should have greater ambitions for the soybean—treating it not just as slop for the world’s abused livestock, but as a miracle technology with the potential to reshape world diets for the better
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
How soybeans took over America — and the world
This technology could feed a world of 10 billion. We’re squandering it, and the trade war with China could make it worse.
www.vox.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Wrote a lot of words on SOYBEANS!🫛 I love having this job so much lol
America should have greater ambitions for the soybean—treating it not just as slop for the world’s abused livestock, but as a miracle technology with the potential to reshape world diets for the better
www.vox.com/future-perfe...
America should have greater ambitions for the soybean—treating it not just as slop for the world’s abused livestock, but as a miracle technology with the potential to reshape world diets for the better
www.vox.com/future-perfe...