Meat Moderation: A Challenge For Government And Society
In 2009 the Belgian city of Ghent became the first in the world to officially encourage citizens to have one meat-free day per week – the result of a successful partnership between the NGO Ethical Vegetarian Alternative and local government. This paper outlines the main principles behind the campaign, which has resulted in around 25% of the population participating at least several times per month. A strong case is made for the role of government in encouraging citizens to benefit the environment, human health and animal welfare by consuming fewer animal products. Regulation, subsidization, taxation and choice architecture are mentioned as some of the methods governments could use to achieve this.
[Abstract excerpted from original source.]
“There are few consumer products that touch on so many different issues as the meat we eat. The high consumption of meat and animal products in general in the developed world, has a significant impact on the environment, public health, world food security and animal welfare. In this paper we state that the issue is so severe and the challenge so great, that in spite of its reluctance to do so, government needs to get involved in order to efficiently tackle it. We discuss the case study of the city of Ghent, which became the first city in the world to officially stimulate its citizens to have a weekly vegetarian day. Probably it was the first time that a government (be it a local one) structurally encouraged meat reduction.”