Meat Industry Aims For “Net-Zero Vision” To Avoid $11 Billion Carbon Bill

The meat industry could be facing an $11 billion tax bill if it does not reduce carbon emissions by 2050.

Analysts have estimated that if “the carbon price for the meat sector reaches an average of $53 per tonne,” then the world’s 40 biggest meat producers will collectively foot the multi-billion dollar tax bill.

The animal agriculture industry is the leading cause of global climate change, prompting increasing calls to action to tackle the root cause.

“Net-Zero World”

Non-profit organization WRAP is leading a new effort in the UK to reduce the impact the meat industry has on the environment, starting with the “meat in a net-zero world” initiative.

All major UK supermarkets have now pledged to work towards the net-zero target, in addition to a number of foodservice and hospitality providers — totalling 80 percent of the UK’s meat sector.

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Meat Industry Emissions

A key focus of the new initiative is the more then 150,000 tonnes of meat that is thrown away in the UK every year — at a cost of £1.5 billion to the British economy.

Data shows that six percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to food that is wasted.

Experts are also looking to how governments can help to encourage meat producers, suppliers, and consumers, to reduce their carbon footprints.

“Apply Carbon Taxes”

“In the post-COVID landscape, there is a risk that governments may stop subsidising animal agriculture and start taxing it instead,” said Jeremy Coller, founder of FAIRR, an investor network that specializes in the livestock industry.

“There’s increasing consensus that we cannot achieve the Paris Climate Agreement unless we deal with factory farming – a sector emitting more greenhouse gases than all the world’s planes, trains and cars put together,” he added.

“That’s driving gathering momentum in policy circles to apply carbon taxes to the meat industry.”

Do you think the animal agriculture industry will rise to the challenge and meet targets? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!