Executive summary

The world’s large and growing appetite for meat and other animal products has profound implications for the climate, air and water quality, biodiversity, human health and animal welfare. There is robust evidence that a shift to more plant-based diets is urgently needed in regions with high levels of animal product consumption, along with a shift away from industrial meat production. However, until recently, few governments prioritized the issue, and many governments actively support industrial animal agriculture through subsidies and other measures.

Now, motivated by both environmental and public health concerns, policy-makers in several countries are adopting regulatory and financial measures to scale down meat production and consumption. While these changes are clearly necessary and long overdue, it is crucial that they be planned carefully and inclusively to ensure a just transition.

Meat supply chains support many livelihoods, and meat is an important part of many people’s diets and cultural traditions. This means that policies that curtail common production practices, reduce meat output and raise meat prices could have significant impacts across society. A just transition approach can help ensure that both costs and benefits are evenly distributed, and protect the most vulnerable stakeholders. By doing so, it can also help increase public support for the transition.