Growing Support for Meat Rationing as a Climate Change Policy

New research from Uppsala University suggests that almost 40% of people are open to rationing high-impact goods, such as meat and fuel, to combat climate change.

This policy is seen as an alternative to taxation, with both approaches garnering similar levels of support across five countries—Brazil, India, Germany, South Africa, and the United States.

Led by doctoral student Oskar Lindgren, the study highlights how rationing could be perceived as fairer than taxes, particularly if it is applied universally, regardless of income.

This could explain why a significant number of people are willing to accept rationing, despite its more direct impact on consumption.

The research, which surveyed nearly 9,000 people, found that 38% favored fuel rationing, with similar support for taxing fuel.

Acceptance of rationing, especially for emissions-intensive food like meat, is notably higher in India and South Africa than in the United States and Germany.

Younger, more climate-conscious individuals were more likely to back the idea, while opposition to meat rationing was strong in Germany and the U.S.

Mikael Karlsson, one of the study’s authors, expressed surprise at how similarly people view rationing and taxation.

He emphasized that further research is needed to explore how rationing could be effectively designed to gain wider public acceptance. With growing global environmental concerns, rationing may emerge as a viable tool in the fight against climate change.

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