LIVESTOCK SECTOR AND SUSTAINABILITY

Early day motion 70, tabled 18 November 2009 by Bob Spink (Independent). Signed by 17 members.

That this House notes that livestock grazing occupies over a quarter of the Earth's terrestrial surface and that expansion of grazing land for livestock is a key factor in deforestation; recognises that livestock are responsible for almost a fifth of greenhouse gas emissions, a bigger share than that of transport; expresses concern that livestock production impacts heavily on the world's water supply, accounting for more than eight per cent. of global human water use, mainly for the irrigation of feed crops, and is the largest sectoral source of water pollutants; expresses further concern that the sheer quantity of animals being raised for human consumption also poses a threat to the Earth's biodiversity; and calls on the Government to bring forward the measures necessary to reduce the UK's impact on global greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss from the livestock sector whilst avoiding the export of these impacts overseas and whilst supporting a viable, sustainable and thriving UK farming industry.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, Liberal Democrat 3, Independent 2, Conservative 1.