EU Answer to Open Letter by EVU regarding climate change

'Organisations like the European Vegetarian Union can play an important role'

Dear Mr Pichler

Thank you for your email to President Barroso concerning climate change. President Barroso forwarded your email to me and asked me to reply on his behalf.

You point to the fact that not all agricultural products are linked to the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions with livestock as an important source of methane. The Commission is aware of this and has started to act. In fact, in recent years greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture have decreased - mainly due to the fact that animal numbers and the use of fertilizer is decreasing with the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) taking away the incentives to increase production. Thus the CAP reform has started to move agriculture in Europe into a more climate friendly direction.

Also raising the awareness of the climate impact of our behaviour as consumers is important. Organisations like the European Vegetarian Union can play an important role. Rather than any theoretical command and control policy by governments awareness of consumers plays a significant role in changing consumption patters of agricultural products. In this respect I would like to encourage you to continue your work.

You can find more information on the Commission's climate change policy. I would like to particularly point you to the most recent set of climate change policy proposals of January 10.

Kind regards,
Artur Runge-Metzger
Head of Unit C.1 'Climate strategy, international negotiation and monitoring of EU action'
Directorate 'Climate Change and Air'
European Commission
DG Environment
Office BU-5 2/137
1049 Brussels

Source: Answer from President Barroso to Open Letter by EVU regarding climate change
Author: EVU

Link: Barroso Urges Less Talk, More EU Action on Climate
Link: Open Letter to President Barroso: 'Livestock a major threat to environment'


Other EVANA-articles about this topic:
From EVU: Open Letter to Mr. José Manuel Barroso, (en)