UN expert advises to eat less meat to fight climate change

London, Sept 7 (PTI) Mooting an unconventional therapy to check global warming, leading environmentalist Rajendra Pachauri has advised to shun meat and non-vegetarian diet at least for a day in the week.

One meat-free day a week will be an effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, said Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (I.P.C.C.).

"In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity," he was quoted as saying by the Observer. "Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there," he advised.

Diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse
gas emissions and other environmental problems - including
habitat destruction - associated with rearing cattle and other
animals, the 68-year-old Indian economist, who is a vegetarian
said.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated
that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global
greenhouse gas emissions.

These are generated during the production of animal
feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly cows, emit
methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming
agent than carbon dioxide.

Pachauri was re-elected as the I.P.C.C. Chairman for the
second time last week for six-year term. He has headed the
organisation since 2002.

The agency has also warned that meat consumption is set
to double by the middle of the century. His comments are the
most controversial advice yet provided by the panel on how
individuals can help tackle global warning.

The I.P.C.C. had last year earned a joint share of the
Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice-President Al Gore. PTI