Impact of Food Production Must Inform Climate Policy

{Impact of Food Production on climate – Guardian Letters – Normally we wouldnt print a letter as it is opinion not fact.  However this one is different as it is properly referenced – Earth and Leaf Editorial}

{extract below}

Impact of Food Production on Climate Must Inform Policy

Your editorial on nature-friendly farming (12 August) rightly points out that a reduction in meat and dairy consumption is the most effective way to provide food security while protecting nature and biodiversity, and curbing emissions. There’s ample evidence that more food can be produced on less land if crops feed people directly, rather than farmed animals. What’s missing so far is the necessary leadership to effect change. The Conservative government failed to take up the national food strategy recommendation of a 30% reduction in meat and dairy production by 2030 or to follow the Climate Change Committee’s advice to reduce meat consumption by 35% by 2050. Well done to those councils, most recently Calderdale in West Yorkshire, that have passed motions to lead the way on this.

A shift is needed away from regarding meat dishes as the norm. If restaurants and cafes offer food choices that are 50% plant-based, this could easily nudge behaviour towards more sustainable eating. The emissions and environmental impact of food production must be part of climate policy everywhere.
Linda Newbery
Barford St Michael, Oxfordshire

Today’s link to our pages or posts . . .

Irish leaders need to start being honest about livestocks long shadow and our unsustainable diets