We use cookies where necessary to allow us to understand how people interact with our website and content, so that we can continue to improve our service.
We only ever receive anonymous information, and cannot track you across other websites.
View our privacy policy
Government ministers have been criticised for their handling of emissions relating to meat consumption, after a key Government policy document appeared to circumnavigate the issue. The land use strategy for England – did not include reduction in area used for animal agriculture, despite being designed to ensure the country reaches its net zero and biodiversity targets, while helping farmers adapt to climate change and continue producing high-quality, affordable food. A senior Defra source commented “it’s not up to us to tell people what to eat”.
This is at odds with the government-commissioned National Food Strategy (NFS) which recommended that to achieve a sustainable future, the UK must reduce the proportion of farming land committed to animal agriculture (which stood at 85% at the time).
Henry Dimbleby, who led the NFS review, remarked that no government would tell the public to eat less meat as the message was “politically toxic”.
In November 2023, food systems campaign group ‘Feedback’ applied to take the Government to Court for a judicial review over its ‘failure’ to tackle food and farming emissions in the Food Strategy. Feedback’s application was rejected, a move which the environmental group said revealed fatal flaws in the Climate Change Act.
According to Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) latest carbon budget, a range of low-carbon choices will form part of a “balanced pathway” towards net zero – with food and diet changes making “smaller, but important contributions” to this transition. Household low-carbon choices contribute to one-third of emissions reduction in 2040, while a shift in average meat and dairy consumption are anticipated to make up 6% of these household emissions reductions. The CCC note that:
“By 2040, 25% of meat (30% of red meat) and 20% of dairy is replaced with lower-carbon foods, compared to 2019 consumption levels”
Drawing on evidence from a Citizens’ Panel, which was convened as part of the report, the CCC found that:
Interestingly, much of the news coverage of the Carbon Budget focused on diet shifts, despite a greater emphasis on other measures. (Electrification and low-carbon electricity supply make up the largest share of emissions reductions in the CCC’s pathway – 60% by 2040).
A three-month online research and engagement project conducted by Hubbub worked with 175 UK homeowners (followed by polling of 501 UK homeowners) to understand how to support UK households in the transition to net zero.
On diets and food, the work found people’s motivations involve a mix of considerations about health, costs and taste. Health was the biggest priority when it came to diet, but people also reported cutting down on meat due to increased costs.
When it came to tackling food waste, the expert advice and engagement offered to households helped to drive meaningful changes. By engaging in the project, 75% (130) of 175 Household participants said they felt more confident about reducing and preventing food waste at home.
More widely, the work suggests that further measures are needed to enable households to buy more loose fruit and vegetables, and increase the range of vegetarian choices available; while in terms of communication and engagement, the report suggests there is a need reframe meat reduction more positively.
What’s the public appetite for climate-friendly food choices?
Making sense of public opinion on sustainable food and diet changes in 2025 – from willingness and perception gaps, to policies and public engagement.