Eating less meat will play a key role Spain The country’s consumer affairs minister stated that it will reduce the impact of the climate emergency, slow the desertification process, and protect its important tourism industry.
Alberto Garzón said that Spaniards need to be aware of the huge environmental impact of eating meat, especially beef raised on large industrial farms, and change their eating habits accordingly.
“People here know the role of greenhouse gases in climate change, but they tend to associate them with cars and transportation,” Garzon told the Guardian.
“Until recently, everyone started to pay attention to the impact of the animal consumption chain, especially beef. Other countries have done quite advanced in this regard, but in Spain, this is a taboo.”
The minister said that the country’s geographical conditions make it Highly vulnerable to climate change, Plus Spaniards know that love and love are in danger of disappearing forever.
“If we don’t take action, we will deal with more than just climate change-it will be a triple crisis: loss of biodiversity; pollution and climate change,” he said.
“For a country like Spain, this will be the end. Spain is a country in the Mediterranean Basin-it is not Britain or Germany-desertification is a very serious problem for our country, especially because it is very dependent on Tourism. Visiting the desert is not as attractive as visiting the Costa del Sol.”
Garzón said that Spaniards do not need to stop eating meat altogether, but recommends that they eat much less and make sure that they are good for their health and environmental quality. He compared cheap, mass-produced products with traditionally raised meat.
“Extensive farming is an environmentally sustainable way of raising cattle, in parts of Spain such as Asturias, parts of Castile and Leon, Andalusia and Extremadura It is of great significance,” he said.
“This is sustainable; what is not sustainable is these so-called large farms… They found a village in a sparsely populated part of Spain and invested 4,000, 5,000, or 10,000 cattle. They polluted the soil and polluted the water. Then export this inferior meat from these abused animals.”
The minister also pointed out A recent report The study found that 20 livestock companies have more greenhouse gas emissions than Germany, the United Kingdom or France.
Garzón is an economist. He is the coordinator of the United Left League in the coalition government led by the Spanish Socialist Party. Urge people to reduce meat consumption In July.
He pointed out that the average Spaniard eats more than 1 kg of meat per week, although the country’s food agency recommends that people eat 200 to 500 grams, and Spain eats more meat than any other EU country, slaughtering 70 million pigs, cattle, Sheep, goats, horses and birds produce 7.6 million tons of meat each year.
His appeal was met with cynicism and refutation—especially his own government partners. The Minister of Agriculture stated that the agricultural sector has been “very unfairly criticized because its honest work for our food and economy deserves respect”, and the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, Seemed to sneer at this suggestion, saying: “Personally, medium rare steaks are hard to beat.”
Garzon blamed the friendly fire on what he called the “different plans and policies” of the coalition parties diplomatically, and said he had always known that competition with the industrial meat industry would cause fierce reactions.
“We knew from the beginning that this issue would cause controversy, but it needs to be done,” he said. “Other countries—such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France—are far ahead of us in this regard. This is the first time in the Spanish government that someone has said what scientists have been saying for a long time.”
The Minister also noted that most public criticisms From man They obviously “feel that their masculinity will be affected by not being able to eat a piece of meat or barbecue”. On the other hand, women are much more open to this information.
“We think that a part of society is ready for this and already understands it,” he said. “But we still need to push, and no party supports us. Not one. Not even within the ruling coalition.”
Despite this, Garzón firmly believes that Spain finally has a belated public discussion of meat.
“Civil society organizations and associations of ecologists, pediatricians, doctors and nutritionists all stood up for us,” he said.
“I think this helped us win the debate because this issue was debated for three days in all news programs and bars.”
Other ministerial reforms-including A blow to the Spanish gaming industry, Prohibition of unhealthy food advertisements targeting children and Symbolic toy strike Emphasize gender stereotypes-he doesn’t always like certain companies.
They also made him a favorite target of the Spanish right, and they accused him of interfering in people’s lives.
Garzón’s attempts to point out the sexism inherent in many toys have recently been treated with cold shoulder by the far-right Vox party.
“I think Garzón has forgotten that we, as parents, can decide what we buy,” said Rocío Monasterio, its Madrid spokesperson. “I want to go out and buy a lot of dolls and cribs for my daughters, and I want to buy cars, tractors and tanks for my nephew. And I think we should all fill our faces with meat during Christmas.”
