McCartney family urge meat reduction is taken on board at COP21

London 2015

As world leaders prepare to head to the climate conference (COP21) in Paris, Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney have written to David Cameron urging him to include meat reduction in the new global climate agreement.

In their open letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Meat Free Monday campaign, the McCartney family highlight how intensive meat production is a major contributor towards global environmental devastation and climate change.

The family have been promoting Meat Free Monday since 2009: The campaign encourages people to reduce their environmental footprint and improve their health by having at least one meat free day each week. With increasing evidence of the negative environmental impact of the global meat industry, they say that “meat reduction is now more important than ever”.

According to new research from the Center for a Livable Future at Johns Hopkins University, UN member countries can reduce their carbon emissions by up to 2% per year by going meat free one day a week.

The McCartney family also point out that their proposals can be implemented quickly and would have almost immediate environmental and health benefits.

In a video message released today alongside the letter, Paul McCartney encourages people to take up the idea. “Talk to your people, talk to the schools, talk to your friends, talk to anyone you need to talk to and encourage this idea,” he said. “If enough of us do it, it could really make a big difference.”