Macca takes 'meat-free Monday' crusade to EU

Published on Thursday 3 December 2009 20:27

SIR Paul McCartney has taken his "meat-free Mondays" campaign to the European Parliament, saying the power to halt global warming lies as much with individuals as with their governments.

In Brussels, Sir Paul met Rajendra K Pachauri, head of the UN's global climate change panel, and praised the virtue of skipping meat one day a week for the sake of the environment. "I grew up as a kid not eating meat on Fridays," he said. "It was part of the rules of the school I went to."

And the former Beatle said that, at a time of concerns over global warming, there was an "even more crucial reason" to skip meat.

The well-known vegetarian said the production of food – from farm to fork – accounted for 20 to 30 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock production was responsible for around half of these emissions.

He admitted his flight from London to Brussels – and on to Berlin for a concert last night – had contributed to global warming. He said: "They haven't invented microphones that work on candle power. I do everything I can. If I go for a car, I go for hybrid. I recycle."

Mr Pachauri lauded Sir Paul's initiative, saying it "certainly makes the tasks of governments so much easier".

Earlier, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said the global climate conference opening in Copenhagen next week must at least "light the pathway to a legal agreement" on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.