A MEETING at the European Parliament which will today encourage consumers to eat less meat to combat global warming has come in for heavy criticism.
The Livestock and Meat Commission has written to all of the UK's Members of European Parliament expressing concerns that former Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney, together with Mr Rajenda Pachuri, the Chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Clima
te Change and self-declared vegetarian are to address the event.
A spokesperson for the LMC said the views of independent scientists must be given greater priority in the European Parliament than those of lobbyists and activists.
Meanwhile, MEP Jim Nicholson said the meeting is 'another example of what the farming industry is up against when it comes to global warming and climate change'.
The Conservative and Unionist representative said eating less meat is not the 'silver bullet' for fighting global warming and is not the only answer.
Edward McMillan–Scott, Vice President of the European Parliament is hosting the event "Global Warming and Food Policy: Less Meat = Less Heat" which is encouraging legislators and experts to focus on what an individual can do to fight climate change by eating less meat.
Mr Nicholson said he has been contacted by the Meat and Livestock Commission locally to complain about the event.
"This is another example of high profile names being wheeled in and given a platform to disparage farmers and the agriculture industry by giving a one sided view on climate change that says it is all the farmers' fault when in fact the scientific evidence says something different," said Mr Nicholson.
"What has been achieved throughout Europe in the
reduction in green house gas in the UK since 1990 is continually
overlooked. Methane gas emissions have reduced by 17% and nitrous oxide has decreased by 23%.
"These people should be made aware that concentrating on this one single issue resolves nothing. While I do not deny that we must make changes to the way we live for the future good of our planet, this is certainly not the way to resolve it. There has been massive investment through the nitrates directive for example to improve the situation. Of course we can do more but some recognition should be given to what has been achieved to date. In the years ahead food security will be an even bigger issue than it is now given that the world population is due to increase 50% by 2050."
"LMC has severe concerns that the European Parliament appears to be pandering to the voice of populism by inviting Paul McCartney and Mr Pachuri to speak at a hearing in Brussels," explained Mr David Rutledge, Chief Executive.
"The environmental debate needs to be broadened to the wider issue of how to feed a growing world population in a sustainable way, using the land resources to best advantage and needs to be based on robust, scientific research. We have therefore written to the UK MEPs asking them to do all in their power to ensure that the views of scientists are given far greater priority in the European Parliament than the views of populist lobbies."
The European Parliament has examined climate change issues with respect to agriculture, food and development policies and will present its views to the heads of governments meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.
"Following the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament will have a say in agricultural decisions," added Mr Rutledge. "It is therefore imperative that arguments accepted by Parliament are based on science. LMC has been encouraged by the response we have received from MEPs following our letter and we will continue to do all we can to represent Northern Ireland's agricultural industry on the European and global stage."
