France - where eating animals is seen by many as essential to haute cuisine - is to end its love affair with meat should proposals for new climate legislation go through. Opposition is fierce but expected, yet the bill also has surprising support from younger voters.

The climate and resilience bill, currently under examination by France’s higher chamber, includes ditching flesh altogether for at least one day a week in schools - reported on previously by Surge - making one daily vegetarian option mandatory in all state-run canteens including government buildings and universities, while chefs will be trained on how to make nutritious vegan meals.

In a move described as nothing short of an historic “culture shift”, Barbara Pompili, France’s minister for ecological transition, told the Guardian that the proposals are part of a broad plan to achieve the country’s net-zero emissions target and bolster public health, in addition to a boost to the economy.

“[About] 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and 91% of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest are linked to livestock farming,” she told the Guardian. “So developing a vegetarian offer means acting for the climate, against deforestation, while giving canteens more room to purchase high-quality, locally produced meat that is better for the environment. Everyone wins.”

While the bill has received support from France’s younger voters aware of the disproportionate impact of animal agriculture on the environment - as explored in our latest Surge video Veganism could save the planet. Here's why - it has also sparked outrage among the culinary traditionalists and rural farming communities.

In late 2018, violent protests broke out when fuel prices were driven up as a result of environmental concerns, seen by many as unfair to people living in the countryside. To moderate the bill and prevent fresh protests, the plans include measures that would place an emphasis on sourcing meat domestically, rather than pushing it out completely.

According to the bill, from 2024, 60 per cent of the meat served in ‘mass catering’ will have to meet quality standards that will favour meat produced in France over imports. While this isn’t the outright move away from all animal products that we would like to see, and that would make the most sense if tackling the climate crisis and improving public health was really a priority, politically it is to be expected. The idea, as Pompili explained, was one of inclusivity in the war against climate change.

“We will only have a successful environmental transition if everyone is on board,” said Pompili. “We are trying to bring about a culture shift for French people – we want the environment to be a reflex for people. Every single person in France can play a role in environmental protection. This is about people’s daily lives.”

The French government has created a ‘citizens’ assembly’ to shape the bill. People as it turns out are “really enthusiastic and gung-ho” and keen to take action once informed about the science of the climate crisis, Pompilli said.

France has somewhat of a “special responsibility” when it comes to the climate and is working with the UK to ensure that talks held at Cop26 in Glasgow in November will result in the full implementation of the 2015 Paris agreement. To do this, France will have to change drastically in regards to its romance with meat and dairy, no easy task when butter and cheese are staples of the national cuisine and part of the cultural heritage.

Together with the news that the EU has rejected Amendment 171 in a landmark victory for sustainability policies, France’s plans are a further sign that political will is changing along with the times, and politicians are no longer as beholden to a voter base bogged down in traditionalism as they once were. That resistance to change is typical of older voters, meaning that we could be seeing the last days of cultural meat dependence.

Andrew Gough is Media and Investigations Manager for Surge.

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