LA Climate Week 2026 Kicks Off with Historic 100% Plant-Based Gala

Hollywood glamour met climate action as 2026 LA Climate Week kicked off at the famed Wilshire Ebell Theatre with a vegan spread and a packed crowd.

By UnchainedTV News Staff, Los Angeles, April 8th, 2026 — Today, Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 marks the official start of 2026 LA Climate Week, a city-wide mobilization aimed at tackling the most pressing issue of our time. While the week is just beginning, the momentum ignited last night with a profound statement at the famed Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

In a historic gesture for a major metropolitan climate summit, the LA Climate Week Opening Ceremony featured a 100% plant-based menu, signaling a paradigm shift in how the environmental movement views the dinner plate. As environmental activists and celebrities gathered in the heart of Los Angeles, the message was clear: you cannot solve the climate crisis while ignoring the devastating impact of animal agriculture.

An Iconic Setting for a Cultural Transition

The Wilshire Ebell, a venue synonymous with Los Angeles heritage and the site of iconic moments featuring stars like Judy Garland, became the backdrop for a sustainable future. The evening was headlined by vegan luminaries, including noted visual artist Ekaterina Sky, the multifaceted vegan dancer, singer, and composer Inanna, and the evocative poet Sean Hill. Their presence underscored that the climate solution is not just a policy shift, but a profound cultural transition to a plant-based lifestyle.

The crowd “gobbled up” world-class offerings from two standout plant-based pioneers:

• Cena Vegan: This Mexican-American powerhouse provided a spread of authentic, bold flavors that showcased why plant-based meals are the future of traditional cuisine.

  “Our mission is to celebrate and unify the community by providing delicious plant-based food that fuels the ‘sí se puede’ dream.” Cena Vegan

• Crêpe du Jardin: Offering both sweet and savory vegan crepes made on the spot, this artisan company proved that elegance and ethical eating are a perfect match.

The Hard Science: Why the Menu Matters

 While corporate interests and government narratives often suppress the “cow in the room,” a landmark study from Oxford University, highlighted by the New York Times, provides undeniable proof of the diet-climate connection.

The peer-reviewed research, led by Professor Peter Scarborough and published in Nature Food, analyzed the diets of 55,500 people. The findings are a wake-up call to the world: vegans are responsible for 75 percent less in greenhouse gas emissions than those who eat more than 3.5 ounces of meat a day.

The data of destruction is clear:

• Emissions: Heavy meat-eaters account for 22.5 pounds of carbon dioxide daily, while vegans account for just 5.4 pounds.

• Land & Water: A vegan diet results in 75% less land use and 54% less water use.

• Biodiversity: Plant-based eating reduces biodiversity loss by a massive 66%.

Dr. Scarborough’s research emphasizes that if heavy meat-eaters in the United Kingdom alone simply reduced their intake, it would be the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road.

2024 LA Climate Week

LA Climate Week: The Road Ahead

The celebration at the Ebell was just the beginning. Besties Vegan Paradise, at the legendary Original Farmers Market,  is now an LA Climate Week “Climate Hub,” with a series of high-energy, fascinating events designed to pull back the curtain on the most overlooked solution to our planetary crisis.

Event #1: The Climate Healers Premiere

Friday, April 10th | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location: BESTIES at the Original Farmers Market (6333 West 3rd Street, Store #126)

The Climate Healers

A fast-paced evening featuring the premiere of UnchainedTV’s adrenaline-pumping short film, The Climate Healers, featuring the visionary work of climate systems analyst Dr. Sailesh Rao.

• Live Q&A: Engage directly with Dr. Rao mc’d by UnchainedTV’s Jane Velez-Mitchell.

• Featured Film: Following the discussion, a screening of the award-winning animation How Water Makes Climate.

Event #2: The Climate Anxiety Party Headlined by MOBY

Saturday, April 11th | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: BESTIES Vegan Paradise at The Original Farmers Market

Moby Climate Party

Experience the intersection of history and sustainability as world-renowned musician and activist Moby headlines “The Climate Anxiety Party.”

• Keynote: At 1:00 PM, Moby will share his decades-long journey into veganism and why it remains the single most effective tool for an individual to combat the climate crisis.

• Organizers: Plant Based Treaty campaigners Paige Parsons Roache, Cesar Asebedo and Daniel Moreno, alongside UnchainedTV’s Jane Velez-Mitchell.

• Pro Tip: Park in The Grove’s adjacent indoor lot—it’s much less expensive than the Farmers Market spots!

Event #3: High-Stakes Chefs’ Challenge!

Saturday, April 11th | 2:00 PM

Location: BESTIES at the Original Farmers Market

chefs challenge

Watch three world-class chefs battle it out in a high-stakes cook-off featuring Beyond Meat sausages and “mystery vegan items” grabbed from the shelves of Besties.

• The Competitors:

• 1. Gabrielle Reyes: The musical vegan chef known as “One Great Vegan” (Oprah Tour, Today Show).

  2. Reina Montenegro: The “Queen of Vegan Filipino Cuisine.”

  3. MJ Guertin: The Montreal-turned-LA private chef who brings punk-rock flair to every dish.

• The Judges: Global activist Genesis Butler (with her sister Zion), Jessica Cruz (Vegan Street Fair), and Cesar Asebedo (Plant Based Treaty).

Event #4: Food Day Festival in WeHo

Food Day WEHO

Sunday, April 12th | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Location: Plummer Park, West Hollywood (7377 Santa Monica Blvd)

A FREE, family-friendly community festival organized by Plant Based Treaty LA and SoCal VegFest.

• Highlights: 30+ sustainable vendors, a plant-based food court with free samples, live entertainment, and an interactive “Planet Heroes” corner for kids.

• Action: Hear from sustainability speakers and join the conversations shaping food policy in West Hollywood and LA County.

2025 LA Climate Week

Lead the Charge for a Greener Future

“We are seeing the walls of denial come down,” says Jane Velez-Mitchell, who is co-executive producer of The Climate Healers, along with Dr. Sailesh Rao. “For years, the environmental toll of the dairy and meat industries was the ‘secret’ nobody wanted to talk about. Now, it’s changing. As our film shows, it’s a race against time with the climate worsening at a terrifying pace. We can no longer afford complacency when it comes to our food system.”

Choosing plant-based isn’t just about delicious food; it’s a radical way to slash your carbon footprint, protect animals, and ensure a livable planet for future generations.