The Australian Government completely rejects claims from the United Nations (UN) that the meat industry, particularly in Australia, is driving climate change, water depletion and deforestation.
Australian Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said the UN’s campaign against the meat industry shows that the UN is becoming irrelevant.
“Australian meat producers are amongst the most sustainable land managers and environmental stewards in the world and encouraging people not to eat meat are the actions of an activist group not a responsible international body the UN is meant to be,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Rather than denigrate and insult the integrity of our meat producers, we should be celebrating the farmers who help produce the first choice of protein for people globally.
“Urging people to ‘eat less meat’ based on an ideological agenda is nothing short of hypocritical and disgraceful.
“Australia remains at the forefront of sustainability and our meat industry does not deserve to be continually maligned and disparaged.
“Meat continues to be an essential food item for people around the world regardless of income level, and we will need to produce even more meat if we have any hope of creating a food-secure future, not less.
“In Australia, all meat sectors have committed to significantly reducing emissions, and most industries are on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2030.
“According to research by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), greenhouse gas emissions from the red meat and livestock industry have fallen by 57.6 per cent since 2005. We are also producing meat with 65 per cent less water than 2005.
“The UN ought to stick to their knitting of promoting peace and prosperity rather than denigrating the work of our farmers, instead of pursuing political agendas on these important issues,” Minister Littleproud said today.
