Eating meat could become illegal due to the ecological damage it does to the planet, a top British barrister has said.

Michael Mansfield QC believes the government should introduce tighter legislation to make activities which destroy the natural world illegal – and in the future this could even include banning the consumption of meat.

“There are plenty of things that were once commonplace that are now illegal such as smoking inside,” said Mr Mansfield, who will present his ideas at the Labour party conference on Monday.

“We know that the top 3,000 companies in the world are responsible for more than £1.5tn worth of damage to the environment with meat and dairy production high on the list. We know that because the UN has told us so.

“I think when we look at the damage eating meat is doing to the planet it is not preposterous to think that one day it will become illegal,” he said.

Currently 25 per cent of global emissions come from agriculture, with livestock contributing to 80 per cent of that.

Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave Show all 20 1 /20 Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-4.jpg A villa in rural Italy which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-6.jpg A villa in northern Italy which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-12.jpg A hotel in north Germany which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-17.jpg A synagogue in Romania which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-18.jpg An apartment block in northern Germany which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-9.jpg The garden house in an Italian villa which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-3.jpg A mansion in rural Poland which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-10.jpg The swimming pool of a French villa which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-15.jpg A church in the south of France which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-22.jpg A kitchen in a South German rural village being reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-11.jpg A villa in northern Italy which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-21.jpg Nature starts to reclaim one of the rooms in Chernobyl, Ukraine. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-7.jpg A hotel in north Germany which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-20.jpg The gym at Chernobyl, Ukraine which has been reclaimed by nature over time. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-1.jpg Nature starts to reclaim the fun fair in Chernobyl, Ukraine. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-13.jpg An Italian villa which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-2.jpg A Bedroom in a South German rural village being reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-8.jpg An Italian villa which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-19.jpg A mansion in the North of Germany which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS Abandoned buildings seen reclaimed by nature after humans leave abandoned-buildings-nature-5.jpg A villa in rural Italy which has been reclaimed by nature. See SWNS copy SWCAabandoned: A series of haunting photographs have captured the lost grandeur of some of Europe's most spectacular buildings which have been reclaimed by nature. Romain Thiery, 30, tracked down deserted mansions across Europe which are now overgrown with vines and weeds. The buildings and landmarks, once home to families and communities, are now uninhabitable after years of being left to rot. Romain Thiery / SWNS

Industrial agriculture relies on fossil fuels to create fertilisers and machinery to harvest crops and transport animals. Farmed animals also produce half of the world’s methane emissions. Research last year found that meat and dairy companies could overtake the oil industry as the world’s biggest polluters by 2050.

“It is time for a new law on ecocide to go alongside genocide and the other crimes against humanity,” said Mr Mansfield.

The top QC will be making a speech at the launch of the Vegan Now campaign at the Labour party conference where he will be sitting on a panel of experts debating the damaging effects of livestock farming on biodiversity and climate change.

Juliet Gellatley, director of animal rights group Viva!, who will also be on the panel, said: “Thirty years ago people didn’t bat an eyelid if you lit a cigarette in a pub or restaurant. But now society accepts smoking is harmful and totally unnecessary and so we legislated against it. The same could happen with eating meat.”

Experts behind the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found red meat had high greenhouse gas footprint because of the emissions livestock give out as well as the impact of land being cleared to grow crops for animal feed.