World leaders urged to negotiate a shift to a plant-based food system

Scientists, celebrities, MPs and youth leaders from Fridays for Future have joined forces in an open letter urging world leaders to negotiate a radical shift to a plant-based food system to prevent planetary tipping points. The Plant Based Treaty initiative has been proposed to be taken into consideration calling for an end to animal agricultural expansion.

The Plant Based Treaty

The initiative has been backed by Nobel Laureates, Roger D. Kornberg (2006 prize in Chemistry), Eric S. Maskin (2007 prize in Economic Sciences) and Sidney Altman (1989 prize in Chemistry) who urge world leaders to negotiate a fair transition to a plant-based food system.

Ahead of COP26, 18 MPs signed an Early Day Motion supporting the Plant Based Treaty initiative and encouraged the government to put food systems at the heart of combating the climate crisis by promoting a transition to healthier and more sustainable plant-based diets. Emma Lewell Buck, Caroline Lucas, and John McDonnell are among those who signed the motion.

Plant-based food

The climate summit in Glasgow came to an end on Saturday last week with a new deal after two exhausting weeks of deliberations. Plant-based solutions were left out of methane and deforestation pledges at COP26, raising concerns among activists.

Leading climate scientists supporting the Plant Based Treaty, William J. Ripple (PhD. Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Oregon State University), Peter Carter (Climate Emergency Institute, IPCC expert reviewer) and Danny Harvey (IPCC Lead Author on the 4th and 5th Assessment Reports, Working Group III) joined over 40 scientists in the open letter calling for governments to address animal agriculture “before we irreversibly surpass planetary tipping points.”

“A shift to plant-based diets is a key climate change mitigation tool and has been widely supported by a range of academic and scientific institutions as an essential step in lessening the climate crisis”, said the scientists.

Celebrities and activists about the initiative

Paul McCartney and his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney along with actors Joaquin Phoenix, Peter Egen, Jerome Flynn, Evanna Lynch, and Rooney Mara, and Ela Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter) were among the people who also urged COP26 to adopt the Plant-Based Treaty to avoid climate catastrophe.

High profile environmental activist George Monbiot has also endorsed the treaty. He said that he is backing the Plant Based Treaty, which promotes a transition towards more sustainable meals.

“We must all do our part to protect the planet – and cutting out meat, eggs, and dairy is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help. Animal agriculture is responsible for sky-high carbon emissions as well as the suffering of billions of animals each year”, said the activist.

Britain’s top human rights barrister Michael Mansfield QC commented as well. Earlier this year he launched a legal challenge over factory farming due to pandemics and climate concerns.

“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. The damage wrought by meat and dairy needs addressing with urgency; the solutions are outlined in the Plant Based Treaty, which I endorse.”

Plant Based Treaty global campaign coordinator Anita Krajnc said that the climate crisis is a code red for humanity.

“We urge Egypt to ensure animal agriculture is off the menu and on the agenda at COP27 by organising a food systems summit to negotiate nature-friendly plant-based solutions.”