Meat, Methane, and Missed Targets

The UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) wants the public to cut 260g of meat per week - roughly two doner kebabs or two fry-ups - by 2040. The goal? To keep the country on track for net zero by 2050. 

The CCC’s seventh Carbon Budget lays out recommendations for achieving this. Alongside the suggested 25% cut in meat consumption (rising to 35% by 2050), the report pushes for more cycling, better home insulation, and ditching gas boilers. But when it comes to diet, the message is clear: they want less meat, but not too much less.  

Emily Nurse, the committee’s head of net zero, was quick to clarify: “We’re absolutely not saying everyone needs to be vegan.” Because heaven forbid the government acknowledge that rejecting animal use is the most effective step individuals can take for the climate.  

The Problem With Playing It Safe  

The CCC’s recommendations don’t go far enough - because they never do. Animal farming is the leading driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and species extinction. It generates a third of all human-caused methane emissions, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years. Yet, instead of addressing the root cause, policymakers propose minor reductions in meat intake and hope for the best.  

A fully plant-based diet slashes climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use by 75%. It reduces wildlife destruction by 66% and cuts water use by 54%. The science is conclusive: traditional meat consumption is incompatible with net-zero targets.   

Carbon Labels: The Power of Information

If people were shown the environmental impact of their food choices, would they still opt for animal-based meals? Research says no.

A new study found that carbon labels drastically reduce the likelihood of people choosing meat. When presented with a choice between a plant-based and animal-based snack, only 19% chose the animal option when carbon labels were included. Without labels, that number jumped to 32%.

Previous carbon labelling efforts failed due to poor design - numbers without context, leaving consumers confused. The new approach ranks emissions from A (low) to E (high), with clear icons differentiating plant-based from animal-based foods. The result? Fewer people choosing meat.

Small nudges in how food information is presented can lead to meaningful shifts in behaviour. Supermarkets and online grocery platforms have already found that simple interventions - like reordering products or using climate-friendly labelling - make consumers far more likely to opt for plant-based options. If the UK government was serious about tackling climate change, it would mandate carbon labels and make plant-based the default.  

The NHS: Preaching Sustainability, Serving Up Carcinogens  

Even the NHS, which claims to be working towards sustainability, fails where it matters most: food.

A recent study by Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP UK) graded 36 NHS hospitals on the sustainability of their menus. The results? Disastrous.  

- Processed meat, a known carcinogen, was found on every menu.  

- Less than half of NHS Trusts had any strategy to increase plant-based food.  

- Climate-wrecking meats like beef and lamb remained menu staples.  

- 42% of hospitals had zero fully plant-based dinner options.  

The NHS serves 140 million patient meals a year while pledging to reach net zero by 2045. Yet, it continues to prioritise outdated, climate-damaging menus. Meanwhile, hospitals that outsourced catering performed better in sustainability than those running their own kitchens. So what’s stopping the NHS from taking meaningful action?  

The Public Wants Change - Where’s the Government?  

Public demand for sustainable food is growing. A 2024 survey found that over a third of UK residents supported adding more plant-based meals to hospital menus. The Vegan Society and Viva! have urged the government to take real action, from making plant-based meals the default in public sector catering to supporting farmers growing sustainable plant proteins.

The UK’s climate strategy can’t afford half-measures. It’s time to move beyond timid targets and outdated dietary habits. The CCC, the NHS, and the government know what needs to be done. The question is: will they have the courage to do it?