Britain’s political parties are being urged to put veganism at the centre of food and farming policies after Parliament declared an environment and climate emergency last week.
The Vegan Society is imploring politicians to “translate this announcement into action” by adopting policies that encourage plant-based diets, offer vegan food in public sector canteens and support farmers in moving away from farming animals.
According to the charity, this is vital in order to meet the Paris Agreement's long-term goal to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Formal letters signed by the charity’s chief executive have been sent to the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, UK Parliament, the Scottish National Party and the Welsh government.
They argue that increased knowledge and uptake of plant-based foods are required not only for climate change mitigation but for public health too, as it can relieve pressure on the NHS.
The charity also claims that achieving net zero emissions is only possible through a shift towards plant-based diets as the production of meat, dairy and eggs generates much higher levels of emissions.
George Gill, chief executive at The Vegan Society, said: “It is widely recognised that eating animal products has a huge environmental impact, yet this is not at all incorporated into policy.
“Animal agriculture has not taken its share of emissions and it’s becoming increasingly clear that we will not be able to meet the Paris Agreement unless we make a national shift towards plant-based diets.
“We are calling on political parties to act upon their promise and take a bold step to overcome the climate emergency by implementing policies encouraging truly sustainable, plant-based diets.”
The charity is asking political parties to take three steps: firstly, to encourage the nation to adopt an increasingly plant-based diet; secondly, to implement policies for public sector institutions such as schools, hospitals and care homes to offer vegan meals as standard on daily menus, as part of itsCatering for Everyonecampaign; and finally to provide financial and practical help to farmers who wish to move away from farming animals towards growing crops for human consumption, as part of itsGrow Greencampaign.
Will Gildea, campaigns and policy officer at The Vegan Society, added: “Government should also be supporting farmers who wish to towards sustainable arable farming or ecological restoration, which would help it deliver on its promise of public money for public goods.”
On an individual level,2018 research by Oxford Universityfound that adopting a plant-based diet is the “single biggest thing” people can reduce their impact on the planet.
