Extracts from the joint press conference of the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri and environmental activist Sir Paul McCartney . Ex-Beatle and environmental activist Paul McCartney joined the head of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for a debate in the European Parliament in Brussels. The event looked at ways in which individuals can make a difference to climate change - with eating less meat being a crucial step.

press conference

fight against climate change (T)

MCMILLAN-SCOTT, Edward (ALDE, UK)

PACHAURI, Rajendra (IN)

McCARTNEY, Paul (UK, Sir)

Press conference by Sir Paul McCARTNEY, Professor R.K. PACHAURI, Edward MCMILLAN-SCOTT (NI, GB) on the Global warming and Food policy : Less Meat Less Heat: Extracts

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/17100840/ebs66984Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Cutaway, exterior of the European Parliament. 

Arrival of Paul McCARTNEY, Singer and environmental activist, and Rajendra K. PACHAURI, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations, to the press room of the European Parliament in Brussels. (5 shots) 

SOUNDBITE (Original) Paul McCARTNEY, Singer and Environmental Activist, I think what it needs to be done is to point out the dangerous of not changing our eating habits. There are a lot of facts available, the ones I mentioned from the UN report of 2006, but there are a lot more. I think we just have to encourage people, to guide them, to help them to make a transiction, but I think it is doable.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Paul McCARTNEY, Singer and Environmental Activist, My suggestion is that the governmments and the bodies like the European Parliament help people to change. I do not think this has to mean the dimise of farming. I think it has to adapt.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Paul McCARTNEY, Singer and Environmental Activist: I grew up as a kid at school not eating meat on a Friday, and I did not why. I just understood it was a rule of the Church. I still actually do not understand why. The point was I accepted that is was part of the life style, part of the rules of the school I went to. I am saying now that there is even a more crucial reason to do this now. We have actually to reduce emmissions going into the atmosphere, methane and other emmissions produced by the industry in large quantities. They are very dangerous for our future and for our children's future.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Rajendra K. PACHAURI, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations, Certainly taxation would be an effective way of bringing a changement. At the same time, we as human beings responsible for our own food habits, can also make a difference, and I think there is awareness amongst the public. We do not have to wait for governmments to impose a taxe. Taxes will perhaps help and we should perhaps take them seriously.

SOUNDBITE (Original) Rajendra K. PACHAURI, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations, Let us assume that the meat cycle, based on the 18% figures which are maybe underestimated, suppose a quarter of the emmissions coming from the meat cycle, the life stock cycling. I think cutting down consumtion to five or six days a week would certainly has a major effect on reducing emmissions to maybe 7% or 8%. We have estimated in our report that if we want to limit the temperature to 2.4 degree Celsius, then globally emmissions must pick not more than 20.15.

Cutaways, end of the press conference. (10 shots) 