Following a Telegraph report from Environment Secretary George Eustice which suggested the Government was considering introducing the carbon tax, Mr Sharma said he would help people “make the right decisions.”
Alok Sharma spoke to Andrew Marr about the idea of a carbon tax on food at the beginning of the COP26 international climate summit.
He said: “I’m someone who believes very much in carrot rather than stick, trying to move people in the right direction.”
Mr Sharma had previously told The Telegraph he had become vegetarian after being persuaded by his daughter.
He told Mr Marr that cutting down on meat was a “personal choice” and he would not try to persuade others.
Instead, he believes people should be persuaded to “make the right decisions,” to move to green technology including heat pumps or electric cars, with incentives including grants.
The Environment secretary suggested the carbon tax would ensure the UK extends border taxes on imports from countries including New Zealand and Brazil.
He suggested increasing the price of meat could prompt people to consume less of it.
Mr Eustice opposed any suggestion the Government would influence people’s choices as “whistling in the wind.”
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He said people should eat “less, but better” meat.
Joanna Lumley also spoke on BBC Breakfast last week about introducing food rationing to tackle climate change.
The actress said: “I am not lecturing. I am just saying, in the war, somethings when it came to a crisis, we had to say 'You will have two ounces of butter a week'.
“I am sorry but the world is in a crisis, it is wartime.”
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She added: “This is a different kind of wartime.
“I don't think it would be too bad to have some sort of voucher scheme.”