HIGH STEAKS

The report highlights that the agricultural sector is the largest source of methane emissions in the EU, accounting for 53% of total anthropogenic methane emissions in 2019. It argues that current EU policies lack the ambition and urgency needed to meet the Global Methane Pledge's 30% reduction target by 2030. A study by CE Delft indicates that while a 'business-as-usual' scenario would only yield a 13.4% reduction, the EU could potentially reduce emissions by 49% to 68% if all available mitigation measures are adopted, including a widespread shift toward healthier diets with lower meat and dairy consumption. The report emphasizes that dietary changes alone could reduce total EU methane emissions by 15% to 19%. It recommends that the EU establish science-based methane reduction targets for the agricultural sector, promote plant-based diets through the Sustainable Food Systems Framework Law, and impose binding methane reporting and reduction targets on companies operating within the EU.

• In 2019, the agricultural sector was the primary source of anthropogenic methane emissions in the EU, contributing 53% of the total 15.2 megatonnes (Mt) produced annually, with the majority attributed to meat and dairy production.
• Under a 'business-as-usual' scenario, EU methane emissions are projected to decrease by only 13.4% by 2030, with the agricultural sector seeing a reduction of only 3.7% despite being the largest emitter.
• The EU could achieve a maximum methane reduction of between 49% and 68% (7.5 to 10.3 Mt/year) by 2030 if 100% of consumers switched to recommended healthy diets and all technical mitigation measures across energy, waste, and agriculture were implemented.
• Shifting EU consumers to healthier diets with reduced meat and dairy intake could independently reduce total EU methane emissions by 15% to 19%, and sector-specific emissions by 29% to 37%.
• Within the agricultural sector, enteric fermentation in ruminants is the dominant source of methane, accounting for 82% of the sector's emissions, with cattle specifically responsible for 86% of those enteric emissions.
• Current EU policies for the agricultural sector are deemed insufficient; the proposed Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) may only provide additional reductions of 2% to 4% and may be implemented too late to impact 2030 goals.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (n.d.). HIGH STEAKS. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-REPORT-ESP-FINAL-HIGH-STEAKS-SPREAD.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. HIGH STEAKS. n.d. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-REPORT-ESP-FINAL-HIGH-STEAKS-SPREAD.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=HIGH STEAKS |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-REPORT-ESP-FINAL-HIGH-STEAKS-SPREAD.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundationndhigh, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{HIGH STEAKS}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CM-REPORT-ESP-FINAL-HIGH-STEAKS-SPREAD.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }