A new report by True Animal Protein Price Coalition (TAPP) proposes a policy for the European Union to adopt a “sustainability charge” on meat aimed at covering environmental damage and urging customers to eat better food. Released in conjunction with CE Delft, the proposed policy includes a tax that would raise the price of meats, including an increase in the price of steak at 25%.

The tax would be slowly introduced over the next decade. The number came from cost research into greenhouse gas emissions, livestock production and air and water pollution. The tax would raise about €32 billion for EU member states while reducing emissions output. Farmers would receive about half of the tax to shift production from meat. The estimated reduced emissions would equal 120 million tons of Co2 annually. This is equal to emissions from Ireland, Denmark, Slovakia and Estonia, or about 3% of total EU emissions.

Climate Professor and TAPP Coalition Chair Pier Vellinga, said of the proposal, “Including the environmental cost of animal protein in the price is a crucial element of meeting EU targets for climate, biodiversity, public health, farming, and animal welfare. Europe offers more complexity but also higher rewards, for all.”

The reduction would also improve the health of Europeans. According to Jeroom Remmers, TAPP Coalition Director, ” We could also save billions of Euros every year in healthcare costs if EU meat consumption goes down and plant based consumption goes up, as Europeans eat roughly 50% more meat than is recommended in dietary health guidelines.”

Read more about plant-based meats in Europe, and the environmental cost of meat. Check out these articles:

• Scientists Recommend Taxing Meat So We Can Save Our Earth from Greenhouse Gases
• Will Dairy and Beef Collapse in 11 Years?
• Spanish Startup Creates Realistic Plant-Based Meat that Looks Like a Whole Cut of Meat!
• Should Meat Be Taxed To Help Curb Climate Change? This Research Suggests So!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects. 

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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