PBL rectifies after request from STAF

At the request of the Agri Facts Foundation (STAF), the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) has corrected 1 of its publications on meat consumption and its consequences on the climate. On the other hand, not all requests from STAF have been honored.

Earlier on the PBL indicated that halving meat consumption in the European Union would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by 25% to 40%. However, the PBL now indicates that this concerns 25% to 40% of the 'agricultural-related' emissions, instead of the total emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions
It has also been added that the agricultural sector is responsible for approximately 9% of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions. This means that halving meat consumption is good for a 2,5% to 4% reduction in total emissions, where the PBL previously spoke of 25% to 40%. The research bureau has since adjusted this.

Mieke Berkers, the spokesperson for the PBL, says that the points mentioned arose from errors in the translation. "The original publication of the PBL was written in English. This was stated correctly."

Not everything honored
John Spithoven, the chairman of STAF, is not satisfied with this result. "We have raised 3 points and only 1 has been corrected. Our board will meet on Monday 17 December to see what we can do next."

For the first of the 2 points that have not been rectified, STAF says that the share of livestock farming in the total climate issue in 2004 was about 5% to 6% of the total. The PBL disproves this and claims that in 2004 approximately 9% of emissions were caused by the agricultural sector (80% livestock farming). The PBL also reports that 11% of the CO₂agricultural equivalents. This increase is the result of a decrease in emissions in the other sectors.

distorting image
In addition, STAF claims that the PBL creates a distorted picture with a graph on greenhouse gas emissions; this is measured from 1995 onwards. However, the PBL says that this graph is not biased. Due to a difference in noting the greenhouse gas emissions, PBL was forced to convert older data. The older the data, the greater the chance of errors. That is why the graph goes to 1995.

Click here for the letter from the PBL to STAF.

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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