Members of EU Parliament to Discuss ‘Meat Tax’ to Tackle Climate Change

Members of EU Parliament to Discuss ‘Meat Tax’ to Tackle Climate Change

Members of the European Parliament will today be asked to consider a plan to increase the price of meat across the EU to reflect its CO2 costs.

The plan is being put forward by the True Animal Protein Price Coalition, (TAPP), a Netherlands based coalition of health organisations, animal welfare and environmental organisations, social ventures and food companies working to lower meat and dairy consumption in the EU.

According to TAPP the 512 million EU citizens account for 6.8 per cent of the world’s population but are responsible for 16 per cent of the world’s total meat consumption.

A report from the coalition entitled Aligning food pricing policies with the European Green Deal, recommends increasing the price of meat across the EU to reflect its environmental costs, including CO2 emissions and biodiversity loss.

In a survey carried out last year, the plan for a higher meat price was supported by 63% of Dutch consumers.

According to the coalition, based on their recommendations, the Dutch Cabinet will soon present a proposal for fair meat prices and wider fiscal reforms with the Dutch Parliament.

The Coalition will share the Dutch criteria for successful change with members of the EU Parliament at an event today. The aim of the event is to start a discussion on how to scale up the Dutch model to fit Europe, based on a higher meat price with benefits for all stakeholders involved, including farmers, consumers and Environmental NGOs.

The proposal for fair meat prices, with a sustainability cost included, is set out in an independent report by CE Delft, commissioned by the TAPP Coalition called A Sustainability Charge on Meat. The report calls for a new pricing model to be included in the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy.

The event is organised in collaboration with Compassion in World Farming. It will be hosted by Dutch European Greens MEP, Bas Eickhout and co-hosted by Social Democrat MEPS Mohammed Chahim and Sylwia Spurek.

Speaking ahead of the event, Climate Professor and TAPP Coalition Chair Pier Vellinga said, ‘Including the environmental cost of animal protein in the price is a crucial element of meeting EU targets for climate, biodiversity, public health, farming and animal welfare. Europe offers more complexity but also higher rewards for all.’

(Image by Alexas Fotos via Pixabay.com)

 

 

Antoinette Tyrrell is a writer and journalist who started her career in print and broadcast journalism in Ireland. An English and History graduate of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, she worked for 11 years in corporate public relations for Irish Government bodies in the Foreign Direct Investment and Energy sectors.

She is the founder of GoWrite, a business writing and public relations consultancy. Her work has appeared in a range of national and international media and trade publications. She is also a traditionally published novelist of commercial fiction.

newsletter
Join our mailing list and never miss an update !
EU Regulators Investigate Possible Breach of Competition Rules with Microsoft Teams

EU Regulators Investigate Possible Breach of Competition Rules with Microsoft Teams

The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether Microsoft may have breached EU competition rules by tying or bundling its communication and collaboration product Teams to its

MEPs Back Plans for More Affordable Electricity

MEPs Back Plans for More Affordable Electricity

MEPs have backed proposals for the reform of the EU electricity market. Stronger consumer protection against volatile prices and greater protection to stop vulnerable households from having their electricity cut

MEPs Agree on Legal Definition of Rape

MEPs Agree on Legal Definition of Rape

The European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties and Women’s Rights has approved changes to a proposed directive on combating violence against women, including domestic violence and cyber violence. Building on the