Reducing Meat And Dairy Vital To Hit Net Zero Target

The latest carbon budget released today by The Climate Change Committee has called for a significant reduction in meat and dairy consumption if the UK is to reach net zero by 2050. It is the first time the budget has set targets for a reduction in dairy consumption.

The route to net zero outlines a need for a 25% overall reduction in meat consumption by 2040 and 35% by 2050. This is equivalent to 260g of meat a week – the equivalent to two large kebabs or three average size portions of chicken breast. Red meat has a steeper reduction goal of 40% by 2050.

The budget highlights this transition should reduce deaths from colon and rectal cancer, type 2 diabetes and ischaemic heart disease.

“We welcome the CCC’s first ever target on dairy reduction and likewise, its more ambitious target for red meat reduction,” says Plant-Based Health Professionals UK founder Dr Shireen Kassam. “Red meat and dairy are not required in the diet. Nutrients found in these foods can be obtained from healthier sources that are more sustainable for the planet. If the British public dramatically reduced its consumption of red meat, we would see improved levels of public health, cost savings to the NHS, and, like the latest budget suggests, make great strides to meeting our net zero targets. It’s a win win.”

At PBHP UK, we aim to support people to adopt the Eat Lancet Planetary Health Diet which would equate to a roughly 80% reduction in meat consumption. This is because high income countries need to be making the most changes given their oversized contribution to climate change.

The diet recommends not exceeding, per week, 98g of red meat (pork, beef or lamb), 203g of poultry and 196g of fish. Instead, it focuses on increasing consumption of fibre rich plant-based foods and recommends people eat at least five servings (500g) of fruit and vegetables (not including potatoes), at least 50g of nuts and 75g of legumes per day. Dairy is not considered essential and would be best replaced with fortified plant-milks such as soya milk which has equivalent nutrients to cow’s milk and numerous other health benefits.

Public consultation findings within the CCC budget found the public need more education on the carbon emissions of different foods. This places public sector catering, in particular hospitals, in a prime position to influence public behaviour and improve health by adopting a plant-forward approach to catering – something PBHP UK is working hard to bring to fruition via our Plants First Healthcare campaign.

Although less ambitious than the Eat Lancet diet, the CCC budget recommendations come as a welcome surprise given rumours it would water down its meat reduction targets to keep farmers onside with the budget. The CCC has the task of not only delivering an evidence based pathway to net zero, but ensuring the recommendations are deemed attainable, an awkward dance between climate science and realistic behaviour change that can lead to the watering down of targets to keep the budget as non-contentious and palatable as possible.

In this vein, the budget predicts meat on the UK general public’s plate will predominantly be replaced by alternative proteins as opposed to pulses and legumes. Given the soil improving, nitrogen fixing potential of legume and pulse crops this seems like a lost opportunity, particularly given the potential of new varieties in haricot beans, chickpeas and lentils, which British protein grower Hodmedods has been farming and retailing in the UK since 2017.

Alongside these dietary evolutions, the budget stresses the need for agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 39% by 2040. Unlike other sectors, UK agriculture has been slower to decarbonise, with emissions remaining relatively unchanged since 1990. This means agriculture’s share of UK emissions will steeply rise between 2038-2042 as other sectors are predicted to decarbonise at a faster rate.

According to the budget, farm animals are the biggest emitter of emissions within agriculture contributing 63% of total emissions mainly from enteric fermentation – digestion – in cows  and sheep. Therefore the budget calls for a reduction in cows and sheep of 27% by 2040.

Dr Shireen Kassam concludes. “At PBHP UK, we support and welcome the recommendations of the CCC while highlighting the fact that more ambitious targets for meat and dairy reduction would lead to even better outcomes for public health and the health of the planet. The UK government needs to apply joined-up thinking by creating a Plant-Based Food Action plan, similar to Denmark and Portugal which will help to meet the targets of the CCC’s budget and form part of the UK’s forthcoming National Food Strategy.”