China's health ministry has unveiled a plan to cut down on citizens' meat consumption by about 50 percent. The move is likely to be welcomed by global warming campaigners, as it will be a major boost to the Chinese government's effort to curb green house gases.  

According to new guidelines issued by the health ministry, China's new 1.3 billion population can only consume between 40g to 75g of meat per person each day.

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If the new directives are implemented, carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from China's livestock industry would drop 1 billion tonnes by 2030.      

Scientist believe that at a global level 14.5% of green house gas is produced by consuming cows, chickens, pigs, and other animals. That number is more than emissions from the entire transport sector.      

"Through this kind of lifestyle change, it is expected that the livestock industry will transform and carbon emissions will be reduced," said Li Junfeng, director general of China's National Center on Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation.

Meat, which was once a rare treat for Chinese people, has today become a regular staple. In 1982, the average Chinese consumer consumed 13kg of meat annually. Now, Chinese people consume an average of 63kg of meat in a year, with an additional 30kg of meat per person likely to be added by 2030, if the trend continues.

According to a report published by WildAid, China's meat consumption is likely to add an extra 233m tonnes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere every year. The report further warns that if high meat consumption continues, it will put further pressure on the water supply as well as further degrade arable land and accentuate China's obesity and diabetes problems.

The good thing is that the Chinese government has found much-needed help from top Hollywood celebrities in their drive to reduce nationwide meat consumption. Stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and director James Cameron have been involved in a series of advertisements encouraging Chinese people to eat less animal flesh to help sustain the environment.

Tagschina, China Meat Consumpation, Meat Consumation, China Meat Industry