--- title: "Scientists Identify Exact Number of Burgers You Can Eat Without Destroying the Earth" description: "According to a new report, those who live in the developed world can still eat your delicious burgers and not destroy the Earth — just not too many." date: "2022-10-26" modified: "2022-10-26" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/number-burgers-can-eat-without-destroying-earth" categories: - "Climate Change" - "Environment" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "agriculture" - "climate change" - "meat" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Identify Exact Number of Burgers You Can Eat Without Destroying the Earth ![According to a new report, those who live in the developed world can still eat your delicious burgers and not destroy the Earth — just not too many.]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* ## Burger Kings Rejoice, burger lovers! According to a [new report]() from the World Resource Institute (WRI), those who live in the developed world can still eat [delicious burgers]() and not entirely destroy the planet— as long as they make sure to cap consumption at about two normal-sized patties per week. One catch, though: those two burgers will have to be the only meat you eat at all that week. So, uh, maybe tone down the celebration just a little. ## Bunbelievable This revelation, among many others, was found in the WRI's annual [State of Climate Action]() report, the latest installment of which was published earlier today by the global nonprofit. For the report, researchers examined exactly how much — or, rather, how little — progress was made in 40 different key climate indicators, ranging from transport to renewable energies to, yes, meat consumption and more. Burgers aside, we aren't exactly doing so hot in any of the categories. Per the report, if humans are to avoid the worst of climate catastrophes, we'll have to do a lot of difficult things a lot faster than we're doing them today. Among other very tall tasks, coal will need to be phased out six times more quickly than is being done so today; the amount of available public transport has to expand, also at rates six times faster. Deforestation rates, too, must drop dramatically, while a rapid increase in the use of fossil fuels is cause for alarm as well. "The world has seen the devastation wrought by just 1.1 \[Celsius\] of warming," Ani Dasgupta, the chief executive of the World Resources Institute, [told *The Guardian*](). "Every fraction of a degree matters in the fight to protect people and the planet." ## Eat Your Veggies As far as limiting meat goes, the researchers, like many others, cite [agricultural emissions]() — a phenomenon that's been well on the rise since the dawn of the industry's industrialization — as a main cause for concern within the sector. That being said, for cholesterol's sake, you probably shouldn't eat more than two burgers a week anyway. In any case, though, maybe this week, in the spirit of the State of Climate Action 2022, sub at least one meaty meal — burger or otherwise — for a vegetable dish instead. "We are seeing important advances in the fight against climate change," Dasgupta continued to the *Guardian*, "but we are still not winning in any sector." **READ MORE:** *[Cut meat consumption to two burgers a week to save planet, study suggests]()* \[*The Guardian*\] **More on meat consumption:** *[Scientists Cook Comically Tiny Lab-Grown Hamburger]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()