Post on 28-Dec-2015
Climate Change and Meat Consumption
Jens Holm, MEP 2006-2009
www.jensholm.sewww.vansterpartiet.se
Zagreb 2/10-09
World´s meat production 1950-2000
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005
Milj ton
Animals y/w
• Chickens 48 bn
• Pigs 1.2 bn
• Lamb/sheep 800 million
• Turkeys 700 million
• Cattle 300 million
Meat -> global warming
Livestock:• 2/3 of the world´s N2O
• 35-40 % of the world´s CH4
• 9 % av the world´s CO2
• 18 % of world´s GHG
Källa: FAO Livestock´s Long Shadow, 2006
Solutions
• Abolish the EU meat subsidies
• Meat tax
• Information campaigns
• Public procurement
• Meat free day.
• Campaigns on restaurants etc.
Science says: Eat less meat• 2006 Livestock´s Long Shadow. Environmental Issues and Options FAO.
Meat industry and livestock breeding represents 18 % of world´s emissions of greenhouse gases.
• 1997 Beef and Car? Household´s Environmental Choices Swedish EPA: Food consumption 1/5 of Sweden´s total energy use.
• 1997 Vegan, Vegetarian, Onmivore, Sweden´s University of Agricultural Sciences: 10-15 times more energy needed to produce meat instead of beans.
• Sept 2007 Report in The Lancet. Reduce of meat consumption to the half of today´s levels.
• 2008, Taxation on Animal Food in the EU, Molin, Wirsenius et al Chalmers University.Impose a meat tax!
• 2008 Less meat – less heat. Rajendra Pachuari, chair of IPCC.
• 2009 McKinseyEat less meat.
• 2009 The Amazone Cattle Footprint, Greenpeace.Meat consumption main culprit the destruction of rainforest. 1990-2003 rise in cattle from 26 to 64 million.
The people: Yes we can
• 1997 Eating for a better Environment, Swedish EPA: Meat consumption should decrease with 75 %, milk with 25 %.
• June 2009 Food recommendations. Swedish National Food Administration and the EPAEat 40 % less meat!
• 2008 The Public and Climate Change (No. 5904). Swedish EPA 47 % of the Swedes are willing to reduce their meat consumption in order to reduce their climate impact.