Rich countries ‘must cut meat consumption by 75%’ to hit climate targets

Average Briton would need to cut consumption by a third, reports Tom Batchelor

Global meat consumption continues to rise (AFP via Getty Images)

People living in the UK and other high-income countries must significantly reduce their meat consumption in order to meet environmental goals necessary to prevent runaway climate change, a report has urged.

Global meat consumption continues to rise and the land and water requirements of the industry are taking a heavy toll on the planet.

Researchers in Germany said the current high meat consumption levels were “not compatible with sustainable development” and that consumers should aim to cut their intake to 20 kilograms or less annually.

In the UK, where annual meat consumption is around 31kg, according to the British government’s ​​National Diet and Nutrition Survey from 2018–19, that would mean reducing meat intake by a third.

But the average EU citizen eats 80kg of meat a year, requiring them to cut down by a third, researchers said.

However the team, from the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, said in some poorer countries where “nutritious plant-based alternatives are not available or affordable year round”, meat consumption was acceptable or should even increase.

"If all humans consumed as much meat as Europeans or North Americans, we would certainly miss the international climate targets and many ecosystems would collapse," said study author Prof Dr Matin Qaim.

"We therefore need to significantly reduce our meat consumption, ideally to 20 kilograms or less annually.

“The war in Ukraine and the resulting shortages in international markets for cereal grains also underline that less grain should be fed to animals in order to support food security.”

Explaining the theory that some meat consumption was beneficial, co-author Dr Martin Parlasca said: "We can't live on grass, but ruminants can. Therefore, if grassland cannot be used in any other way, it makes perfect sense to keep livestock on it."

Some poorer regions lack vegetarian sources of high-quality proteins and micronutrients. "In such cases, animals are often a key element of a healthy diet," Dr Parlasca said.

"For many people, they are also an important source of income. If the revenue from milk, eggs and meat is lost, this can threaten their livelihoods."

Low to medium levels of consumption were “compatible” with climate targets even for a global population of 10 billion people, which is likely to be reached by the middle of the century.

The researchers said one option to reduce consumption was for Western government to impose a meat tax.

"That's certainly unpopular, especially since a 10 or 20 per cent surcharge probably wouldn't be enough, if it's supposed to have a steering effect," he said.

"Meat, however, has a high environmental cost that is not reflected in current prices. It would be entirely reasonable and fair to have consumers share more of these costs."

Low to medium levels of consumption are ‘compatible’ with climate targets, the researchers say (Getty/iStock)

The authors also called for schools to start teaching "sustainable consumption". Earlier this month the UK launched a new GCSE in natural history that will teach pupils about environmental and sustainability issues.

Dr Qaim said: "We need to become more sensitive to the global impact of our decisions.

"This is true not only with food, but also with the shirt we buy at the discount store to wear for a single evening at a party."