East Midlands MEP convinced by Sir Paul McCartney

5.30.42pm GMT Thu 3rd Dec 2009

Local Euro-MP Bill Newton Dunn was today won over by the message of Sir Paul McCartney, during the star's extraordinary visit to the European Parliament. The famous vegetarian urged Parliamentarians and guests to sign up to his "Meat Free Monday" campaign. The campaign argues that cutting down on meat consumption even once a week is a simple but effective way for people to reduce their carbon footprints, since livestock rearing emits such a great amount of greenhouse gases.

This high profile event, just a week before the start of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, highlighted the need for individuals to take action themselves and not just leave it to governments.

Bill said he was struck by Sir Paul's statement that one meat free day could cut individuals' emissions by the equivalent of a 1000 mile car trip.

Following Sir Paul's comments, which included evidence of the impacts of livestock rearing on water, the environment and the atmosphere, Bill said:

"Climate change is surely one of the most important issue facing the world. Contrary to the conspiracy theories thrown about by many, including my Conservative East Midlands MEP colleague, climate change is a result of human activity. We cannot ignore the scientific evidence showing how increasing greenhouse gas emissions - from coal power plants, burning fossil fuels in planes and cars, deforestation, and so on - are contributing to rising temperatures around the globe. It is not enough for us to sit back and leave things to mother nature, or say 'it won't happen in my lifetime'. As Sir Paul McCartney highlighted today, there are many things that people did without worrying in the past, such as smoking, but which are now accepted as being harmful in some way. Changing peoples' attitudes is not always easy, but in the case of climate change, it is vital.

"There are many small ways in which we can all 'do our bit' to help curb the trend. I myself have signed up to the '10:10' pledge to reduce my own energy usage by 10% in 2010. Home insulation, cycling or taking the bus, turning off lights and turning down radiators are all ways I can achieve this.

"Sir Paul McCartney and the experts I have heard today have shown that cutting down on meat is also a positive step I can take. And, happily, it is one that will actually have health benefits too! Like turning the office heating off one day per week, buying locally grown produce where possible, or taking the train to Brussels rather than a flight, having one meat free day per week will not require me to change my whole lifestyle or make unreasonable sacrifices.

"If all my East Midlands constituents also bought meat less often, but bought meat that was locally produced and high quality, then we would also be able to support our local farmers.