On Tuesday 19 October 2021, the government published its plan for stopping the UK contributing to climate change. Called the Net Zero Strategy, this paper covered topics including recycling, power and industry. One aspect that was not covered was the impact on the planet of diet and, in particular, meat consumption. To bring this matter to the government’s attention, Chief Executive of the Vegetarian Society, Richard McIlwain, wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

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Dear Prime Minister,

With the publication of the government’s Net Zero Strategy this week, the road map and priority areas for delivery of a low carbon future are now clear. Ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, this strategy should have provided the platform to demonstrate leadership in reducing carbon emissions, nationally and on the global stage.

However, there is a glaring omission within the strategy. We believe that the failure to specifically reference the impact of animal agriculture and the need to reduce meat consumption is a major oversight. With almost 15% of global carbon dioxide emissions coming from animal agriculture, it is obvious that reducing meat consumption has a vital role to play in the overall strategic aim of reaching net zero by 2050. The Vegetarian Society supports the Eating Better Alliance’s call for a 50% reduction in meat consumption in the UK by 2030. Beyond 2030, we want to see meat consumption continue to reduce and many more people adopting increasingly plant-based diets.

We are not alone in calling for a focus on diet and meat consumption in tackling climate change. The government’s own Climate Change Committee recommends reducing meat consumption by 20% by 2030, and the National Food Strategy led by Henry Dimbleby goes further in suggesting a 30% reduction in meat consumption. In addition, a report recently commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy states that:

Our food systems are responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock (and particularly ruminant products) being a disproportionate driver of emissions, land-use change, freshwater use, and a major source of other pollutants. Shifting dietary habits towards more environmental options (e.g. plant-based, local) and enabling sustainable agriculture is fundamental to achieving Net Zero.

With three reports commissioned by government clearly advocating for action on meat consumption as a means to reduce carbon emissions, it is therefore disappointing to find no overt and specific reference to this in the Net Zero Strategy. While we might expect to see more detail on government’s proposals for reducing meat consumption in the upcoming Food Strategy, to have no similar aligned proposals in the Net Zero Strategy does not appear to project joined-up strategic thinking.

I’d very much like to understand why this issue has been omitted from the strategy and whether government does in fact intend to encourage a reduction in meat consumption, as a critical component of the overall plan to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions.

I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Richard McIlwain (Chief Executive of the Vegetarian Society)