Our response to Climate Change Committee's 7th Carbon Budget

We welcome the Climate Change Committee's 7th Carbon Budget, which rightly highlights the urgent need to tackle greenhouse gas emissions generated by our food system if we are to have any chance of meeting the UK’s Net Zero goal.

As well as recommending adoption of low-carbon farming practices the CCC recommends we reduce the amount of meat in our diets by 25% by 2040 and 35% by 2050 (with a reduction of 40% in red meat consumption by 2050 to reflect the higher emissions of ruminant livestock) in order to reduce agricultural emissions and free up land for nature.

Shifting towards more plant-rich diets would also deliver big improvements to our health and significantly reduce the cost of diet-related disease to the NHS and the UK economy as a whole - reducing diet-related deaths and disability by 10%.

The UK currently eats twice as much meat as the global average, with 34% of UK adults eating more than the recommended amount of red and processed meat. In contrast just 9% of adults eat enough fibre and only a third of us are getting our 5-a-day. 

Eating less meat does not mean we have to make huge changes to our diets, or sacrifice eating foods we like to eat. In practice it means small changes that can have a big impact on health and the environment, with a 35% reduction in meat consumption equating to just one less rasher of bacon or two chicken nuggets less a day.

Rebecca Tobi, our Senior Business and Investor Engagement Manager, said: "While the report does not look in any great detail at what policy changes will be required to enable these much-needed dietary shifts, citizens will only be able to make these changes if their food environments are supportive of this critical transition.

"We urgently need policymakers to step up to the plate and ensure that farmers and growers are properly supported to supply an array of plant based foods (particularly fruit, veg and pulses) and adopt low carbon farming practices and protected from being undercut by cheap imported meat produced to lower standards than we have in the UK.

"They must also ensure that everyone in the UK is able to access and afford more healthy and sustainable diets.

"The forthcoming Food Strategy is a critical and opportune moment for the government to set out the direction of travel needed to deliver for both people and planet." 

• We'll be discussing CB7's recommendations for shifting diets to meet net zero targets on our upcoming Quick Bites webinar featuring the Climate Change Committee's Sandra Bogelein and Indra Thillainathan in conversation with our Executive Director Anna Taylor. Sign up for free here