STAF: 'PBL climate figures are basically incorrect'

The day after its establishment, the Agri Facts Foundation (STAF) requests the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) to correct the 'colored information' with regard to the Climate Agreement. The foundation announced this via a press release on Monday 3 December.

STAF claims that the PBL has used incorrect figures when claiming that eating animal products makes a significant contribution to the climate problem, and that eating less meat yields significant climate gains. The PBL bases this on a study from 2014. 

'Misleading information'
According to STAF, the information is misleading. The foundation says it has information that invalidates the views of the PBL. For example, it says that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe in 2004 were about 5.000 megatons. According to the information from STAF, halving the consumption of meat would only yield 200 megatons of climate gain. That is 4% of the total European greenhouse gas emissions, where the PBL speaks of 25% to 40%.

In addition, the Climate Agreement advocates that 15% less meat is eaten, instead of the halving that the PBL is talking about. Based on various calculations by STAF, a 1% to 2% climate gain remains. In addition, according to STAF, a contraction in livestock farming would have only a limited effect on the overall climate issue.

Checking facts and falsehoods
STAF was recently established to check publications for facts and inaccuracies. The foundation addresses the relevant parties about this and requests them to correct the publication. The foundation says it will not avoid legal proceedings.

The initiators and various sympathizers have invested money in STAF, in order to breathe life into the foundation. In the future, a contribution or donation system will be used. "STAF especially wants to prevent farmers from being the victims of regulations that are based on incorrect or incomplete information," said John Spithoven, the chairman of the foundation. 

Tim Roetman

Tim Roetman has been working as a junior editor at livestock farming since November 2018 Boerenbusiness† He mainly writes about (price) developments in the pig and dairy market.

t.roetman@boerenbusiness. Nl

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