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Sussex University students are to vote on whether to ban lamb and beef from its campus food outlets.
The proposed policy aims to help the University ‘fight against the climate crisis’ and reduce its carbon footprint. It follows its declaration of a ‘climate emergency’ last year.
‘Amplifying more eco-choices’
Sarah Osborn is the University’s Energy and Decarbonisation Sustainability Rep.
She said: “Beef and lamb are the most environmentally destructive protein sources. As a university, Sussex has committed to Go Greener.
“This means becoming one of the greenest universities in the U.K, and cutting carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2020.
“Progress has been made with lighting and heating systems on campus. But, more must be done in response to the climate emergency. Reducing the quantity of beef and lamb consumed on campus is part of achieving this. “
Moreover, Osborn added that the ban would not remove meat from the University entirely. However, it would amplify ‘more echo-choices, resulting in a future where students can ‘use their education’ – not ‘lose’ the planet.
‘Different isn’t necessarily better’
The students’ Union wrote the argument against the ban ‘for balance’. It questioned the right to police people’s freedom of choosing what they want to eat.
Moreover, it slammed soy products for being ‘notoriously bad for the environment, arguing ‘different isn’t necessarily better’.
However, almost 80 percent of the world’s soybean crop is fed to livestock for meat such as beef and chicken. Dairy production also requires the use of soy.
Red meat ban
Sussex will join a slew of Universities that have voted on whether to ban red meat to help the environment.
Earlier this month, Oxford University voted in favor of removing lamb and beef from its university-catered events and outlets.
Moreover, Cambridge University replaced red meat with plant-based products last year and saw its food-related emission significantly drop.
Students will be able to vote on the referendum from December 2-7
