"Carbon Pricing for Food" campaign appeals to heads of state worldwide

The campaign is calling on the heads of state of the 50 countries with the highest meat consumption worldwide to raise the prices of meat and dairy products. This would bring prices more in line with the facts, as meat consumption comes with many hidden environmental and health costs.

Scientists from the EAT-Lancet Commission have calculated that a meat consumption of 300 grams per week (equivalent to 16 kg per person per year) would be optimal for consumer health and the climate. However, in the 50 countries addressed by the appeal, an average of 78 kg per person per year is consumed - in the USA the figure is as high as 124.

Necessary measure with many advantages

The consumption of meat and dairy products causes almost 60 per cent of the annual loss of biodiversity worldwide and is responsible for 15 to 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions - and the trend is growing. The introduction of a meat tax would lead to a price increase of 2 to 4 euros per kilogramme of meat in rich countries.

According to the "Carbon Pricing for Food" initiative, the resulting revenue would be used, among other things, to offer food with a low carbon footprint more cheaply, such as fruit and vegetables - and to compensate farmers who reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, e.g. by downsizing their livestock. Research has shown that a broad majority of the population is in favour of a carbon tax on meat - as long as the additional revenue is returned to farmers and citizens.

Oxford scientists have calculated that health spending in Europe would fall by 9 billion Euros if a tax on meat and dairy products were introduced. A meat tax in the 27 EU member states would reduce CO2 emissions by 120 million tonnes per year.

Companies can sign the appeal

The Carbon Pricing for Food campaign is specifically targeting 50 heads of state and their finance, climate and agriculture ministers in an open letter in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in November 2021. Organisations and companies that are behind the idea and want to support the action are invited to sign the letter as soon as possible!

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