The City of Edinburgh Council has voted to have their city join the Plant-Based Treaty, making them the first Scottish city and first capital in Europe to do so.
According to the official website for the Plant Based Treaty, the initiative “aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture, to promote a shift to more healthy, sustainable plant-based diets and to actively reverse damage done to planetary functions, ecosystem services and biodiversity.”
The proposal to join the treaty was introduced by Councilmember Steve Burgess. In March Burgess introduced a motion, that was passed by the council, to have the city produce an impact assessment report to study the potential joining of the Plant-Based Treaty.
The report found that “diets high in plant protein and low in meat and dairy make for lower greenhouse gas emissions, and that consequently, shifting consumption towards plant-based diets has a major mitigation potential.” It states that “Overall, the science is clear, meat and dairy consumption must reduce to achieve climate targets. A shift to plant-based diets would therefore significantly reduce the city’s consumption-based emissions”.
“Green councillors very much welcome the decision by Edinburgh council to endorse the Plant Based Treaty as we proposed”, said Councilmember Burgess. “Edinburgh council’s leader will now be writing to the First Minister of Scotland to encourage the Scottish Government to also express support for a Plant Based Treaty to be negotiated at a global level.”
Nicola Harris, communications director at Plant Based Treaty said, “Edinburgh has lived up to its reputation as a global climate leader by acknowledging the critical need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the food system to achieve our climate targets. Promoting plant-based food across Edinburgh will help residents make informed choices that are better for the planet, personal health, and animal protection.”
According to the official website for the Plant Based Treaty, “The adoption of a Plant Based Treaty as a companion to the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement will put food systems at the heart of combating the climate crisis. The Treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture, to promote a shift to more healthy, sustainable plant-based diets and to actively reverse damage done to planetary functions, ecosystem services and biodiversity.”
Some of the other cities who have endorsed the treaty include Boynton Beach, Florida, Bhuj City, India, the City of Burienos Aires, Argentina, DIdem in Turkey and Haywards Heath in the United Kingdom. In addition to cities endorsing the treaty, it’s been endorsed by over 900 business and over 900 organization, as well as over 60,000 individuals.
In October Los Angeles, California joined the Plant-Based Treaty, becoming the largest city to do so with a population of nearly four million.
According to their website, the Plant Based Treaty has three core principles:
- Relinquish
No land use change, ecosystem degradation or deforestation for animal agriculture
- Redirect
An active transition away from animal-based food systems to plant-based systems
- Restore
Actively restoring key ecosystems, particularly restoring forests and rewilding landscapes
More information on the Plant Based Treaty can be found by clicking here.
