While a conference has been organised in Parramatta to support that idea, the nation's peak meat industry group Meat and Livestock Australia says the concept is "simplistic''.

The Hindu Council of Australia will stage the Observe Meat-Free Day Conference on Thursday, October 2, at Parramatta Town Hall to coincide with the day.

Speakers will spruik the benefits to health of a diet with less or no meat while showing the link between global warming and greenhouse gases caused by animal production on global warming.

A Meat and Livestock Australia spokesman said targeting the red meat industry was simplistic because it didn't "acknowledge all the other high emitters out there'' such as the electricity generating industry.

"This is not as simple as changing a light globe, there are health consequences to think about,'' the spokesman said.

"Vegetarians don't mention that all food production has some kind of impact on the environment, including plant-based food production.''

The meat industry argues it contributes $15 billion to the Australian economy but vegetarians counter that the economy would be wiped out if something isn't done about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Director of the Australian Vegetarian Society Mark Berriman, will address the conference on the ecological and economic advantages of a vegetarian diet.

Mr Berriman said that about a year ago the idea of reducing meat consumption was not an issue but it was now.

He attributed this to statements earlier this month from the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Dr Rajendra Pachauri, a vegetarian who said at least one meat-free day each week could help tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions and habitat destruction.

The UN says meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse emissions.