The Dutch city of Haarlem might be the first in the world to forbid the majority of meat advertisements

To curb consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, a Dutch city will make history by becoming the first in the world to outlaw meat advertisements in public places. In 2024, the prohibition will go into effect in Haarlem, a city with a population of around 160,000 and located to the west of Amsterdam. The meat was recently added to a list of products that are thought to be contributing to climate catastrophe. It has been criticized by the meat industry that the municipality is "going too far in telling people what's best for them" by prohibiting advertisements on Haarlem's buses, shelters, and screens in public areas. The municipality of Haarlem has come under fire from the meat business for "going too far in telling people what's best for them" by forbidding advertisements on its buses, bus shelters, and screens in public places. Carbon-absorbing forests are cut down to provide livestock grazing, and the nitrogen-rich fertilizers used to grow their feed can worsen air and water pollution, contribute to climate change, and deplete the ozone layer. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is also produced in enormous amounts by livestock. Ziggy Klazes, a councilor from the GroenLinks party who introduced the meat advertising ban, claimed she had no idea the city would be the first in the world to implement such a policy when she submitted it. "We are not about what people are baking and roasting in their kitchens; if people wanted to continue eating meat, fine," she said, according to the Haarlem105 radio station. We cannot inform people about the climate catastrophe while urging them to purchase items that contribute to it. Naturally, there are a lot of individuals who think the choice is ridiculous and patronizing, but there are also a lot of people who believe it's okay. If it is picked up nationally, it would only be very wonderful. It is a signal. Many GroenLinks groups are interested in trying it out because they believe it is a good idea. The restriction also applies to vacation flights, fossil fuels, and vehicles that rely on fossil fuels. Due to existing contracts with companies that supply the products, the ban has been postponed until 2024. The decision is met with some resistance inside the Haarlem council, with critics claiming that it stifles free speech. Trots Haarlem leader Sander van den Raadt observed: "It is remarkable that the municipality of Haarlem is holding a large poster campaign that you can be yourself and love whomever you want in Haarlem, but if you like meat instead of soft grass, 'the patronizing brigade' will come and tell you that you are completely wrong." According to research by Greenpeace, meat consumption needs to be cut to 24 kilograms per person annually from the current average of 82 kg, or 75.8 kg in the Netherlands, the EU's top meat exporter, for the EU to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.