SNP told to draw up advice for public’s ‘climate-friendly diets’
MINISTERS have been told to draw up a strategy to encourage Scots to take up “climate-friendly diets” – as part of immediate action experts have demanded in ramping up the fight against the climate crisis.
A new report from the Climate Emergency Response Group (CERG) has also called for the Scottish Government to hold regular briefings to better inform Scots about the climate emergency and actions being taken.
During the height of the Covid-19 crisis, Nicola Sturgeon regularly fronted daily briefings.
The document has set out 12 immediate actions that CERG says must be “delivered at pace” – warning there is a need for a minister to be “fasttracking action on the ground to reduce emissions and build resilience” to the climate emergency.
Included in the blueprint for action is an appeal to “develop a definition, criteria, and public guidance on climatefriendly, sustainable, and healthy diets within the next 12 months”.
Ministers have also been told to “establish a multi-year programme of engagement with the public, farmers and food producers and processors to apply the guidance and ensure the ‘Sustainably Scottish’ brand includes climate-friendly criteria”.
The report also calls on the Scottish Government to “publish a vision and proposal for a new system of rural support and a detailed roadmap to provide the certainty, support and payments required to transition farming businesses and practices as soon as possible”.
Statutory advisers, the Climate Change Committee, has called for Scots to cut the amount of red meat they consume in order to contribute to emissions targets.
CERG steering group member, Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land Estates, said: “A sustainable, climate friendly diet is good for our health and good for the planet.
“However, consumers are confused about what food decisions they should make in the best interests of the planet and their own health. Therefore, guidance and practical advice is necessary for people to make informed choices.”
NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy, stressed that “Scotland’s farmers and crofters take their responsibilities on tackling the joint crises around climate change and biodiversity loss incredibly seriously”.
He added: “Just last week, we welcomed the announcement that the pioneering work undertaken by Scotland’s farmer-led climate change groups will drive the nation’s future agricultural policy.
“They each set out a clear industrybacked roadmap on how Scottish agriculture could deliver sustainable, profitable agricultural production that contributes to the nation’s ambitious food and drink sector targets, promotes local, healthy food procurement and meets the growing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.” Speaking in Holyrood yesterday, Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, said the Government is “aware of the need to consider the environmental impacts of our food consumption and production”.
She added: “Now more than ever, we need to produce our food in a way that protects the environment for future generations and safeguards our natural assets. This Government is absolutely committed to continuing to support the sustainable production of the worldclass food that our farmers and crofters are famous for.”
The CERG report has also called for “regular leadership briefings to the nation in the run up to COP26”, focusing on the climate crisis and the Scottish Government’s progress in driving action to net-zero and a green recovery from the pandemic.
The report also calls for the Scottish Government to “increase the number, diversity and flexibility of low carbon work-based learning opportunities”, and transform four cities with a community focus on reaching net zero.
Other actions include making the climate emergency central to all planning decisions and improve non-domestic buildings with sustainability measures.
Consumers are confused about what food decisions they should make in the best interests of the planet