The city council has decided to stop serving meat in kindergartens and afternoon schools in order to protect the environment.

In Oslo, Norway’s capital city, the aim is to halve meat consumption, because – according to the city council’s argument – this is one of the cheapest and most effective climate protection measures. However, not everyone is happy about the decision.

On Thursday, Oslo’s city council decided that no meat or meat products shall be served in kindergartens and PM schools. The council believes that many children do not eat enough fruit and vegetables, so they argue that the measure is aimed at ensuring a healthier diet.

„We know that eating a little less meat is one of the cheapest and most effective climate protection measures,” Green Party Finance Minister Einar Wilhelmsen said.

The politician also emphasized that kids would not be forbidden to bring meat from home into the institutions.

The plan also includes measures to reduce food waste. We use up too much food,” Mr Wilhelmsen said.

Besides having to remove meat from kindergartens and PM schools, all municipal canteens will have at least three meat-free days a week. Municipal nursing homes, however, will be exempt from the new rules for the time being.

The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision has also come up with a proposal to serve vegetarian meals in kindergartens for children from different cultural backgrounds, Oslo’s Finance Council adds.

This is more socially inclusive, allowing everyone to eat the same meals,

Einar Wilhelmsen said.

The Progressive Party, however, wants to scrap the target of halving meat consumption. „Eliminating meat-based meals is a paternalistic policy, which the Freedom Party opposes,” newly elected councilor Ingeborg Bjornevik said. She also pointed out that meat is an integral part of a „balanced, healthy diet” recommended by the national councils.

During this year’s elections voters in Oslo have demonstrated that they are fed up with the Green Party’s hopeless climate protection measures that have had no real impact. I am very confident that the other centre-right parties will support us,” Ms Bjornevik added.