SETTING THE TABLE (image:usepagov)
Today a very exciting report was published by the Sustainable Development Commission, an independent body that advices the Government.
The report concludes that reducing meat and dairy in the diet will have significant health and environmental benefits. It has also called for all food advice from the Government to include environmental considerations as well as health guidance.
Tim Lang, co-author of Setting the Table said, “Cutting down on meat and dairy and eating only sustainably sourced fish, fruit and vegetables, would all help reduce the impact of our food system, as well as improving health.”
Check out Felicity Lawrence interviewing Tim Lang for The Guardian here.
The SDC has recommended further research on particular sustainability ‘hotspots’, including meat and dairy, and how different methods of production can affect sustainability. It added that an estimated 70,000 premature deaths in the UK could be avoided if diets matched nutritional guidelines.
WWF-UK are also very supportive of this key report. Mark Driscoll from WWF-UK One Planet Food programme head, said: “This is another impressive report, following on from the study in last month’s The Lancet, which makes the link between a healthy diet and a healthy planet. There can be no doubt that a definition for a sustainable diet should be a priority for Government.”
You can see more details on their meat eating VS global warming debate here.
We are very hopeful about the policy outcomes of this report as well as raising awareness of these crucial issues relating to our planet and health.
Please let us know your comments.
