Meat should be taxed in order to discourage people from consuming it, thereby reducing atmospheric emissions reduced from sheep, cattle and goats. This is a suggestion by scientists to address the issues of global warming by methane emissions.
The analysis, which has been published in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests either meat be taxed to reduce emissions or an emission trading scheme be set in place.
At present there are 3.6 billion ruminants on the planet -- mostly sheep, cattle and goats and, in much smaller numbers, buffalo -- and methane from their digestive systems contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. While methane is short-lived, it is 30 times more effective than CO2 at warming the planet.
"Our study showed that one of the most effective ways to cut methane is to reduce global populations of ruminant livestock, especially cattle," said Pete Smith from the University of Aberdeen.
Smith goes on to say that the only way to reduce methane emissions would be to reduce the the demand for meat.
Nick Allen of Eblex, an organization for beef and lamb producers in England, said that the move was too simplistic and would result in higher consumer prices.
The scientists added that not enough attention was being given to cutting methane emissions, with much of the negotiations at the UN climate talks -- the last round was convened in Warsaw -- focusing on CO2 emissions.
[The Guardian] [Nature Climate Change]
