A recent report shows that a considerable reduction in meat-eating within rich nations is critical to fighting the climate crisis. Other research backs up the study, indicating that avoiding meat and dairy products is the most significant way to reduce the environmental impact on the earth.
Now, the EU is looking into adopting a sustainability charge on meat to cover its environmental damage. The tax, which would roll out in phases over the next decade, would increase the cost of a steak by roughly 25%. This move could potentially raise billions, which could help farmers produce better food, thus, better food for consumers to eat.
The report, which focuses on EU countries, was produced for the Tapp Coalition of health, environment, and animal welfare organizations, by an environmental research group called CE Delft.
CE Delft, evaluated the costs of air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and losses of wildlife linked with the production of livestock. They concluded that to cover these costs, they could increase the price of the meat depending on their environmental impact. For example, the beef price would rise by €0.47 (40p) per 100g, while the levy on chicken and pork would be lower due to their smaller environmental impact, at €0.36 (31p)/100g and €0.17 (14p)/100g.
The research suggests that such taxes could reduce beef consumption in the EU by up to 67%, chicken by 30%, and pork by 57% by 2030.
In addition to raising €32billion a year for EU member states, the meat tax would also reduce emissions by 120 million tons a year and could influence a positive impact on health. According to the Tapp Coalition, about half of the profits should be given to farmers to help steer their production away from meat, which could increase their salary by thousands of euros per year. The rest should be invested in supporting needy families, lowering the cost of fruits and vegetables, and helping developing countries deal with the climate emergency.
Jeroom Remmers, director at Tapp Coalition, said:
Europeans eat roughly 50% more meat than is recommended in dietary health guidelines. So, we could also save billions of euros every year in lower healthcare costs.
The meat tax is backed by another report, conducted by a social purpose company called the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). Their report suggests making plant-based food the default choice on flights or catered events; and marketing veggie food as “delicious, normal, and satisfying, not as light, abstemious, or overtly healthy or vegetarian.” Another proposal is placing plant-based options alongside meat options instead of separating them on menus.
Toby Park, BIT’s head of energy and sustainability, said:
Governments, industry, and consumers around the world are more aware than ever of the need to live within our planet’s means. While some of the solutions will come from technical advancements, there is huge potential and need to reduce our environmental impacts with some simple behavior changes.
These reports make it clear that cutting meat production is the answer to fighting the climate crisis. However, the UK’s National Farmer Union claims agriculture can reach climate neutrality by 2040 without cutting beef production. Instead, the union says they can offset three-quarters of farming emissions by producing fuel for power stations and then catching and burying the carbon dioxide.
