A leading U.S. beef industry trade association knew by 1989 that cattle contributed to global warming but focused its response on protecting consumer demand through public relations, according to a new study examining a decade of industry records.

Climate policy models usually assume people hold accurate beliefs about climate damages. A new study builds disinformation into a climate–economy model and finds that informed democratic majorities can deliver stronger carbon taxes than a politically constrained planner, but this advantage collapses abruptly once disinformation tips the majority. Late and persistent disinformation yields the most severe warming, while counter-disinformation efforts can largely restore effective policy.

A major new report from the European Society of Cardiology sets out how health services need to protect vulnerable patients during heatwaves. It details the need for hospital surge capacity during heatwaves, proactive home healthcare to monitor patients and provide cooling resources – such as fans, suitable storage for medication and watching out for signs of dehydration and overhydration in vulnerable patients.

Internal documents show that the trade association for U.S. beef production knew about livestock’s outsized role in global warming by 1989 and undertook strategic communications operation to convince the public otherwise.