New study finds that Europeans will need to radically restrict meat and dairy consumption to deliver on targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to new study
Europeans will need to radically cut back on their meat and dairy consumption in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with a two-degree temperature target, according to a paper released earlier this week by a team of researchers from Chalmers University of Technology and Sweden's Technical Research Institute.
The research, based on Swedish national data, finds that in order to meet the international target that forms the centrepiece of last year's Paris Agreement the agricultural industry will need to deliver cuts to greenhouse gas emissions of between 65 and 80 per cent by 2050. In particular, emissions from potent greenhouse gases methane and nitrous oxide must be reduced dramatically under the two-degrees scenario to keep warming in check.
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Better technology, such as improvements to the way manure is stored and the use of more advanced pesticides, could cut emissions by up to 50 per cent, the researchers found.
But the study concluded that consumers will likely have to at least halve their average intake of beef and mutton in order to deliver the additional emissions cuts necessary to meet the two degree goal. The study also found that without notable technological advancement, substantial cuts to dairy consumption will also be necessary.
The research aligns with the findings of a leaked document that surfaced from the European Commission last week, which warned that European countries should prepare for a far-reaching debate on the "profound lifestyle changes" required to limit climate change.
But Stefan Wirsenius, one of the Swedish study's co-authors, was keen to stress the research does not mean everyone must become vegetarian or vegan. "Poultry and pork cause rather low emissions, in a range equivalent to 10 to 30 kilos of carbon dioxide per kilo of protein, while beef cause 200 kilos per kilo protein," he said in a statement. "So we can continue to eat large quantities of poultry and pork - provided that we cut back on beef."
In related news, earlier this week the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced the launch of its 20,000th MSC labelled product, Las Cuarenta Paella.
The ready-made frozen meal, made by food retailer Netto, is based on the traditional Spanish seafood dish and contains Pollock, blue shell mussels and shrimps from a range of certified fisheries.
The MSC label is designed to reassure shoppers that fish they are buying comes from responsible fisheries that protect fish stocks and their surrounding ecosystems.
Nicolas Guichoux, MSC's global commercial director, said growing numbers of food producers are embracing the label to attract consumers increasingly concerned about the provenance of their food.
"Over the last decade, we've seen new and novel ways MSC certified seafood is being used, from ready-made meals such as paella to sandwiches, pizza and baby food... retailers and manufacturers are exploring new trends to attract more sustainable seafood lovers," he said in a statement.
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