The correct answer is option 4, beef. The world`s growing appetite for beef is a leading cause of tropical deforestation. This is because the demand for beef leads to the expansion of cattle ranches, especially in regions such as the Amazon rainforest. Large areas of forests are cleared to make space for grazing cattle and growing feed crops for them. This process of deforestation releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and disrupts the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Additionally, deforestation also leads to the loss of biodiversity and threatens the habitats of various plant and animal species. Therefore, reducing the consumption of beef can help in mitigating tropical deforestation and its adverse environmental impacts.