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Local governments supporting plant based eating
Updated: Nov 6, 2022
This article lists some actions local authorities are taking to reduce meat and dairy consumption, including: local government policies, public sector catering, school catering and education, business help, communication, libraries and setting up staff networks.
Why?!
Chatham House states that governments must lead on efforts to address meat consumption, as the amount people currently eat is unsustainable. The Vegan Society offer specific advice for local governments.
An academic from Oxford University described eating more plant based food as the biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth. It was even described as imperative for surviving the climate emergency by one academic from the IPCC. This is because meat is a key contributor to global warming, according to reports from Oxford University and Leiden University. Having less animal agriculture will make a great impact on carbon emissions.
More plant based eating has been given as an effective way to reduce carbon footprints by academics from: C40 Cities, Imperial College London, Lancaster University, Lund University, Project Drawdown, Scientists for Global Responsibility, University College London, University of East Anglia and the University of Leeds.
Individuals can pledge to eat more plant based food, and receive support from: Count Us In, The Jump, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Trust for Sustainable Living.
Policy
Government food advisor, Henry Dimbleby recently recommended we encourage a reduction in meat consumption to tackle climate change, in an interview with The Guardian. In a further article, the newspaper evaluated the pros and cons of different policies to accomplish this. Ideas included: a supply- side tax, subsidy changes, advertising standards, eco labelling, changes to supermarket layouts and catering portion sizes, and feeding additives to cattle. Read more about policies in Eating Better or Chatham House.
Politicians in Germany and the Netherlands have already considered meat taxation as a response to the climate emergency. Revenue raised from the tax could be redistributed as a benefit and subsidies to make healthy food more affordable, and farming practices more sustainable.
Endorse the Plant Based Treaty
Endorse the Plant Based Treaty, as in Haywards Heath. The Plant Based Treaty recommends a range of policies for responding to the climate emergency, including in areas such as: planning, exports, communication, education, fiscal policy, conservation, and community development. It is supported by many famous people, such as Paul McCartney. This template letter introduces the campaign, and why councils should sign up. There is a petition and email campaign to request MPs debate the treaty in parliament.
The Vegan Society also comments on policies, such as the National Food Policy, has a template letter to councillors, and advice for councillors.
Take The Jump
Local authorities such as Waverly committed to take The Jump, which is a simple set of six steps to save the planet.
Join Count Us In
Count Us In supports organisations make sustainability pledges, such as eating more vegetables.
Become a Veg City
Brighton and Hove and many other cities are working to promote eating vegetables for health reasons.
Council Catering
Catering advice is available from: Plant Based Councils, Feed Our Future, The Vegan Society, Veganuary, Animal Aid.
Provide only plant based catering to councillors attending council meetings
Faversham, Hythe, Oxfordshire, Cambridge, Lewisham Oxfordshire council state their reasons here, including: climate change, food waste, and healthy eating.
Provide plant based options at council run events
Cambridge council state their reasons here, highlighting that it is the law in Portugal for public catering to include plant based options.
Require all procurement contracts to include two meat free days
, as in: Ealing.
Schools
School advice is available from: Sustain, Pro Veg School Plates, Kale Yeah!, Veg Power, The Vegan Society catering and vegan inclusive education, Vegan Inclusive Education, Eco-Schools.
These curriculum linked picture books and learning resources could help explain reasons to change eating habits.
Require plant based options at school meals
, as has been petitioned for in: Kent.
Reduce meat content of meals, and introduce Meat Free Monday
, as in: Sutton.
Introduce a weekly plant based day and daily plant based options
, as in: Oxfordshire, Leeds (further information).
Suggest plant based school food on the council website
, as in: Epping Forest.
Enable children to help create plant based school menus, or recieve a cooking workshops
, as in the Green School Menu League winning Waltham Forest.
Business
These plant based business resources could help local plant based businesses. The Vegan Society also suggested rates reductions.
Promote plant based business accelerator programs
, such as Growing Kent and Medway (which is funded by the central government).
Use blogs to promote plant based markets
, as in: Sevenoaks, Gravesend, Horsham, Maldon, Colchester.
Help farmers transition to plant based farming
, as was recommended by Animal Aid and other organisations. The Vegan Society produced a report called Planting Value in the Food System about policies which could make farming more sustainable. Inclusive Responsibility is a similar book.
Communication
A Kent Council survey found that residents needed more information to understand the environmental impacts of meat and dairy. The Vegan Society's Plate Up for the Planet campaign explains the environmental benefits of plant based eating.
These websites can help residents try plant based food for one month: Vegan Society app, Animal Aid website and emails, Viva app, Veganuary website and emails, Plant Based Health Professionals emails, The Vegan Approach website.
Public space advert ban
Harlem in Holland has banned meat adverts from public spaces.