To cut emissions from meat and dairy production – and free up land for tree planting to absorb carbon – people would have to eat 25 per cent less meat by 2040 compared with 2019 levels and reduce dairy consumption by 20 per cent.
According to the Climate Change Committee’s Dr Emily Nurse, people need to alter their behaviour and eat 260g less meat each week -the equivalent of ditching two fry ups or doner kebabs a week.
Britons are being urged to make a series of lifestyle changes to help reach climate targets such as reducing meat and dairy consumption, buying an electric car and getting a heat pump.
It has set out what it says is a deliverable and cost-effective route to the greenhouse gas emissions cuts required from 2038 to 2042 to ensure the UK meets the legally binding goal to cut climate pollution to zero overall – known as net zero – by 2050.
The reduction in eating meat and dairy, along with incentives for farmers and land managers to diversify incomes, will lead to the number of sheep and cattle falling by 27 per cent by 2040 on 2023 levels, under the recommendations.
