Campaigners Demand 100% Plant-Based Catering at The Bonn Climate Conference
Plant Based Treaty’s campaigners have set up a free vegan food truck in front of the Bonn Climate Conference in Germany to demand 100% plant-based catering
Bonn, Germany, June 11, 2023 — For the second year running, climate activists have parked a food truck at the entrance of the World Conference Center in Germany planning to distribute 2000 free vegan hot dogs to show Bonn Climate Conference delegates that a transition to a plant-based food system is essential to addressing rising food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
To accompany the vegan hot dogs, Plant Based Treaty, which has achieved UN Observer Status, has handed out more than 100 copies of its newly released position paper titled “21 Cities Call for a Global Plant Based Treaty” to climate conference delegates. The position paper calls for immediate, rapid, and sustained cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, from both fossil fuels and animal agriculture, to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown.
Lea Goodett, a Plant Based Treaty campaigner from the Netherlands, said, “We started the vegan Food for Thought truck as a way to engage with the public and decision-makers about sustainable plant-based diets. Plant-based food not only has the smallest environmental and climate footprint, but offers familiar dishes that are very tasty.”
The Treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture, promote a shift to healthier, sustainable plant-based diets and actively reverse the damage done to biodiversity. Since its launch in August 2021, the initiative has been endorsed by 21 cities including the Scottish Capital Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Didim in Turkey, and Ahmedabad in India. The Plant Based Treaty is modeled on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and was inspired by treaties that have addressed the threats of ozone layer depletion and nuclear weapons.
It’s Urgent to Address the Food System at Bonn Climate Conference
The food system accounts for at least a third of greenhouse gas emissions (other estimates put it even higher) and would bust the carbon budget even if fossil fuels were ended immediately. The paper cites the 2021 UN Methane Assessment Report, which attributes 32% of human-caused methane emissions to animal agriculture, the largest source. Research from Oxford University’s Joseph Poore found that 83% of agricultural land is used to farm animals yet supplies just 18% of calories. Scientific evidence from a Lancet study shows a plant-based food system will reduce food’s greenhouse gas emissions by around 80% and free up more than 3 billion hectares of land for biodiversity and carbon drawdown.
Anita Krajnc, Plant Based Treaty global campaign coordinator said, “The position paper shows why delegates at the Bonn Conference and COP28 in Dubai this December must put food emissions on the agenda. While 21 cities, including Los Angeles and Edinburgh, have endorsed the Plant Based Treaty, we similarly call on world leaders to advocate for a global agreement on a desperately needed transition to a plant-based food system.”
Lisette Weustenenk, a campaigner from Plant Based Treaty Netherlands said, “We are encouraged to see the Bonn Conference has added vegan options to the cafeterias this year. Our Plant Based Treaty petition calls for COP28, and all environmental conferences, to focus on solutions and best practices rather than making the climate emergency worse, so we’d like to see the Bonn Climate Conference commit to 100% plant-based catering.”
The Plant Based Treaty vegan food truck is located at the right of the entrance of the World Conference Center Bonn, Platz d. Vereinten Nationen 2, 53113 Bonn, Germany.
Side Event at the Bonn Conference
On Monday June 12th, 2023, Plant Based Treaty will join World Animal Protection, Brighter Green, Sinergia Animal and the Global Forest Coalition for a side event titled Counting the Impact of Industrial Farming on Our Climate. It will be held at 11.45 CET in the Kaminzimmer room at the conference.
During this event, which people can watch online, experts will be discussing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by industrial farming, with its use of fertilizers and pesticides, and its contribution to deforestation and habitat destruction. Those participating will look at solutions for more sustainable food systems, like plant-based food.
Moderated by World Animal Protection’s Head of External Affairs, James Royston, speakers will include Andrea Echeverri (Global Forest Coalition on behalf of the S3F coalition on the role of MDB to prop up factory farming) and Nilgun Engin (Plant-based Treaty on plant-based Treaty campaign and possibly alternative proteins).
There is a petition Plant Based Treaty has set up to Make COP28 Vegan, asking the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to show climate action leadership by encouraging the hosts of COP28 to provide 100% plant-based catering and creating a policy for future climate conferences to offer 100% plant-based catering, ideally showcasing locally sourced veganic and agro-ecological produce.
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