Governments can – and should – encourage people to cut down on meat

Analysis: Given the carbon footprint of raising livestock, our current levels of meat consumption are not sustainable, writes Phoebe Weston

The carbon footprint of livestock products is between 10 to 100 times greater than plant-based foods (Getty/iStock)

“How about restaurants in 10 to 15 years start treating carnivores the same way that smokers are treated?” asked former UN official Christiana Figueres in a conference at the end of last year.

“If they want to eat meat, they can do it outside the restaurant,” she said.

If you find such measures a little draconian, you’re not alone. Some people find vegans annoying and feel defensive about eating meat – something they’ve done for their whole lives.