Eat less meat and dairy to help the planet, urges Prince Charles
Prince Charles has urged people to stop eating meat and dairy products on certain days of the week to help tackle the world’s environmental problems.
The royal was speaking ahead of the big UN Climate Change summit being held in Glasgow next month when world leaders will be urged to make bold commitments to address the climate emergency.
The Prince of Wales will play a key part in the discussions – and given his longstanding commitment to the cause - he’s been talking about environmental damage since the early 1970s – he could also be deployed by the UK government to get other presidents and prime ministers over the line.
He has spoken about how everyone can play their part, including cutting out meat a couple of times per week.
Prince Charles said: “I haven’t eaten meat and fish on two days a week and I don’t eat dairy products on one day a week.”
Research has shown how cutting out animal products can reduce the carbon footprint of the food we eat – partly because of the food miles the meat clocks up and partly because it will reduce the amount of methane produced by livestock.
A fall in demand for meat would also relieve pressure on the world’s rainforests and other important ecosystems which are being cleared by farmers and replaced with grazing for cattle.
Prince Charles said that was ”one way” to help but he told the BBC, in an interview from his Balmoral estate in Scotland, that “if more did that you would reduce a lot of the pressure.”
The heir to the throne also spoke about how he understands why the Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain protestors have taken to the streets because they have so much “frustration” at not being listened to.
But Charles added that blocking roads “isn’t helpful”.
"All these young people feel nothing is ever happening so of course they’re going to get frustrated. I totally understand because nobody would listen and they see their future being totally destroyed,” he said.
Blockading motorways, as Insulate Britain have done in recent weeks, simply “alienates people”, he added.
Prince Charles will attend Cop26 along with the Queen.
The Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are also attending.
Prince William has embarked on a more outspoken role on environmental issues in recent months and will this week host his inaugural Earthshot Prize alongside Sir David Attenborough.
Earthshot is a 10-year scheme which will award £1 million to five recipients each year who have shown they can help combat climate change, reduce waste, clean air or revive our oceans.