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Why Eating a Burger in Houston Is Less Climate-Friendly Than in Chicago

Where cows come from plays a big role in their carbon footprint, a new study found.

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Angus cattle graze at a farm in Tiffin, Iowa.

Photographer: Benjamin Roberts/BloombergFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftGift this articleContact us:Provide news feedback or report an errorConfidential tip?Send a tip to our reportersSite feedback:Take our SurveyNew WindowFacebookXLinkedInEmailLinkGiftBy Emma CourtOctober 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM UTCBookmarkSave

Beef is notoriously bad for the environment. Just how bad depends a lot on where in the US you eat it.

The carbon footprint of a burger is bigger in Houston than San Francisco, and in Dallas compared with Chicago, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change on Monday.

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