From Watts Up With That?

Essay by Eric Worrall

“… skip two kebabs’ worth of meat a week …” – and flying, decent home heating, and owning an automobile.

UK urged to act now on net zero – and skip two kebabs’ worth of meat a week

Climate Change Committee issues advice to government on meeting carbon emissions target by 2050

Fiona Harvey Environment editorWed 26 Feb 2025 11.01 AEDT

Giving up two doner kebabs’ worth of meat a week will be enough to keep the UK within safe climate limits by the end of the next decade, as more drastic changes in behaviour can be avoided if the government takes action on greenhouse gases from energy, transport and industry, the UK’s climate advisers have said.

People would need to change their behaviour in some ways, such as by eating about 260g less meat each week, but this was likely to happen gradually and in line with health trends. “We are absolutely not saying everyone needs to be vegan. But we do expect to see a shift in dietary habits,” said Emily Nurse, head of net zero at the Climate Change Committee, which on Wednesday published its official advice to the government on meeting the UK’s target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Flights should be more expensive by the 2040s although the sector could still expand by 10% while meeting emission targets, according to the CCC. In contrast to previous advice that no airport expansion could take place without big cuts to carbon elsewhere, it was not prescriptive about where or how the expansion could occur. It did find that a frequent flyer tax would have broad public support, and called on the aviation industry to take responsibility for reducing the resulting climate impact through investments in sustainable fuels and greater efficiency.

Gas boilers will have to go, people will have to use public transport and walk and cycle more frequently, while homes will need to be much better insulated, saving money as well as carbon, the CCC said.

…Read more: 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/26/uk-urged-to-act-now-on-net-zero-two-kebabs-worth-of-meat-climate-change-committee

One of my happy memories from my time in Britain is grabbing a quick kebab with friends while waiting for a taxi after being politely kicked out at closing time. Really took the edge off standing outside in the freezing cold.

How long are you Brits going to continue tolerating this nonsense?