MEP says eat less meat to reduce animal emissions

Date published: 15/05/2007

Farting cows, burping chickens and belching sheep have been identified in a new United Nations report as being responsible for 20% of global warming emissions - Rochdale MEP Chris Davies says there is nothing natural about animal emissions on such a scale. 

The finger of blame is pointed at intensive agriculture practised in Britain and other rich nations, where meat is now eaten in vast quantities.

Mr Davies said: "In the UK alone there are now 10 million cattle, 36 million sheep, 5 million pigs and 145 million chickens.  Never before have the numbers been so great, with the majority of animals kept indoors throughout their short lives and treated just as units in a factory production line."

The UN report has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to climate, forests and wildlife.  The report concludes than unless drastic changes are made the damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050 as demand for meat increases.

Mr Davies, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats on climate change, is calling for more studies by the European Commission into ways of reducing global warming emissions from livestock production.

"The simple answer is for people to eat less meat.  In most cases that would be better for their health and better for the environment," he said.