Environmentalists in the United Kingdom are pushing for a 20-60% increase in the price of meat to offset climate change.
QUICK FACTS:
- Huge taxes on meat have been proposed by environmentalists who blame the consumption of animal products for a considerable portion of climate change.
- A paper by the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School outlined a plan for price increases of 20-60% on meats for the UK, US, and Australia.
- Economists assert that this price hike would reduce meat consumption and increase revenue for sustainable farming enough to make a positive impact on environmental issues.
- Allowances would also be made to support low-income families, according to an article on the study which argues that “Taxing meat can protect the environment.”
- This subject was a topic of conversation at the U.N. climate change conference in Glasgow last November, according to Market Watch.
ARGUMENTS FROM ECONOMISTS:
- “Livestock farming is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, soil and water pollution, and precious forests are being cleared for pastures and food crops,” said the leader of the group, Professor Linus Mattauch according to Summit News.
- “Evidence suggests the environmental impacts are so large that the world can’t meet climate goals and keep vital ecosystems intact without reducing the consumption of meat – at least in Western high-income countries,” he added.
- Mattauch wants governments to “start thinking about also taxing meat to reduce its consumption,” asserting that this is the “most efficient path to preventing further strain on our planet.”
- “According to the group’s model calculations, the direct cost of livestock farming in relation to climate change is as high as $9.21 per kilogram of beef,” reports ReMix News.
- “Applying this cost to the price of beef could result in beef products being as much as 56 percent more expensive. Similarly, poultry would cost 25 percent more, and lamb and pork would rise by 19 percent.” British politicians have shown support for additional taxes on the meat and dairy industry, according to Market Watch.
BACKGROUND:
- British politicians have shown support for additional taxes on the meat and dairy industry, according to Market Watch.
- Environmental groups claim that livestock are responsible for around 13% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to Summit News.
