The European Parliament will hold a public hearing in Brussels on 3 December on “Global Warming and Food Policy: Less Meat = Less Heat” in the run-up to the world climate conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December).

This event will aim to highlight how important it is to tackle the issue of climate change at all levels - at the level of the individual in the first instance, and also at local, regional, and national levels in Europe and across the globe.

Two major guests, Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and Sir Paul McCartney, in his role as environmental ambassador, will use their fame to push legislators and experts to focus their attention on changes in what individuals eat, which, all together, can make a difference for the future of the planet.

Parliament Vice-President Edward MacMillan-Scott will chair the hearing, which will be opened by Parliament President Jerzy Buzek. A report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 2006 on “Livestock's Long Shadow” will inform the debate and speeches by experts. The report shows that meat production is much less efficient in the use of various inputs and very intensive in emissions of greenhouse gases and water use as compared with equivalent vegetable food production.

The European Parliament, which is a legislative body and fully involved in the European climate change strategy and in European agriculture, food and development cooperation policies, will present its views in Copenhagen.

For further details, please check http://www.unric.org/en/latest-news/25955-european-parliament-to-organise-expert-hearing-on-climate-change-and-food-in-run-up-to-copenhagen-conference-