Friends of the Earth have said that eating “less, but better quality” meat is vital to the struggle against climate change. The NGO reiterated its message on meat as UK scientists warned that crop failures are likely to become more common in future as a result of climate change.
Friends of the Earth is backing the Sustainable Livestock Bill proposed by Labour MP Robert Flello. It aims to reduce the environmental impact of meat production and if passed, would be likely to make ethical meat consumption easier.
"Climate change is likely to make an inefficient, badly-managed and unfair global food system even worse,” insisted Friends of the Earth's Senior Food Campaigner Vicki Hird today (7 October).
She said, "One of the major problems is that huge quantities of food are fed to factory-farmed animals instead of people - we need to eat less, but better quality meat to ensure that people across the globe have enough food”.
Hird added that the UK government could “lead the way” by backing Flello's private member's bill. She also called for more research on “sustainable farm systems that can adapt to climate change”.
Friends of the Earth's Food Chain Campaign is calling on the government to reduce the environmental and social damage caused by the meat and dairy industry by getting behind “planet-friendly farming”.