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Give the planet and ourselves a break, just eat less meat
• CAMDEN Sustainability Task Force is considering a recommendation to reduce the amount of meat and dairy available on sites controlled directly or indirectly by Camden Council (Eco-fears could see canteens going veggie, April 3). We are not saying no meat and dairy. Nor are we saying only vegetables. We are saying less meat and dairy for environmental and health reasons.
In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimated the carbon emissions associated with the livestock industry to be 18 per cent of global emissions.
That’s partly because cows burp methane, but also because of the fossil fuels used to grow grain to feed to cattle, to make chemical feedcake for cattle to eat, to pump water for cattle to drink, to refrigerate meat, to transport refrigerated meat and to sell meat in supermarkets in open fridges and freezers.
Cattle produce a kilogram of meat for every 17 kilograms of vegetable protein they eat. It would be a far better use of resources if we simply ate most of that vegetable protein directly. We have known for some time now that what’s come to be known as the Western diet – large amounts of meat and dairy – is a key factor in the obesity epidemic (particularly when the meat is fried).
I am not a vegetarian but the more I investigate this issue the more I see that eating less meat will help the planet and my health. Vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts, grains and pulses can provide all the protein, vitamins and nutrients that humans need.
Indeed, for most of their existence humans have primarily lived off this sort of diet. It’s only in the last 50 years we have massively increased the quantity of meat we consume. And, of course, we now eat poor-quality meat.
So our final recommendation is likely to say we should provide less meat but when we do provide meat it should be healthier meat, less carbon-intensive and subject to higher animal welfare standards.
This will cost more but will be better for the planet and our health.
Cllr Alexis Rowell
Chair, Camden Sustainability Task Force
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