It is clear that the UK loves its meat. From the classic doner kebab and Sunday roast dinner to its national dish, chicken curry and the convenient KFC. Meat is a dining staple in almost every restaurant you go to, every school cafeteria and takeaway shop, it’s pretty hard to avoid it,  let alone giving it up completely!

However, behind the tasty food is a sad reality that most like to ignore. The inhumane conditions that most livestock are subjected to is one issue, but the fact that 26% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from food production, and over 70% of that is produced by meat alone is shocking. Beef in particular is the most environmentally damaging food there is with one kilogram of beef being responsible for 71kg of carbon dioxide emissions. The figures are also high for pork, lamb and poultry. So there's no doubt that abstaining from meat is actually very impactful for our world.

On the other hand, consuming meat is more to people than its unique taste, meat plays a big role in many cultures as unique dishes that are significant to the people who make it. It also is enjoyed in many major holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. It may be  impossible for everyone in the world to just give it up completely, and this is not needed or expected to combat climate change. A famous quote states that ‘it's better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing.’ That saying, If more people ate less meat, it would be more impactful than a few eating none at all. Perhaps consider eating beef only on special occasions, or opting for plant-based meals for lunch or incorporating meat alternatives in your cooking. The options are endless. 

For children and teens, the easiest way for them to tackle climate change is with their diet. To make this easier, schools should offer more vegetarian and plant-based lunch options that are not only limited to boring salads and sandwiches. By switching to a plant based diet, you would be reducing your carbon footprint drastically, so perhaps give it a try! There is no need for perfection, doing your best counts as playing your part in saving our planet!