European Parliament Member urges Europe to reduce meat subsidies and meat consumption. In early February, the European Union Parliament recommended specific economic measures and changes in consumer behavior to improve its climate policy. One of the ideas originally proposed, though not yet included, was a call for reducing worldwide meat consumption.

Jens Holm – European Parliament Member from Sweden, Vegetarian (M): The key recommendation is that the European Union should reduce our emissions with up to 40% to 2020, compared to the levels of 1990. And that the emissions of greenhouse gases should be reduced with about 80% at least to 2050.

VOICE: Swedish Member of the European Parliament Jens Holm, who is a vegetarian, is quick to remind that the meat industry is responsible for more of the world’s total emissions of greenhouse gases than all transportation sectors combined.

Jens Holm – European Parliament Member from Sweden, Vegetarian (M): A very good first step to take would be to cut all the subsidies to the livestock sector. That would be very good for the environment but also very good for the animals.

VOICE: In addition to halting subsidies, Mr. Holm urged ordinary citizens to do their part to greatly reduce emissions simply by eating less meat.

Jens Holm – European Parliament Member from Sweden, Vegetarian (M): Meat production is one of the biggest environmental problems that we have in the world. The ideal would be if we stopped totally.

VOICE: We wholeheartedly agree and thank you, Mr. Jens Holm for being a noble example and courageous voice of leadership for us all. We also thank the European Parliament for their considerations in this vital direction. May governments and citizens alike join in making it happen – to stop climate change by being veg on a large scale.