Scotland’s Edinburgh becomes the first capital city in Europe to sign the Plant Based Treaty.

Scotland’s Edinburgh becomes the first capital city in Europe to endorse the call for a Plant Based Treaty in response to the climate emergency The city council has signed on to the Plant Based Treaty, an initiative which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture.

What is the Plant Based Treaty ?

The Plant Based Treaty aims to address the environmental harm that the current food system has brought about. This is accomplished in part by supporting vegan industries over others that depend on the exploitation of animals, such meat and dairy. Along with many other animal-based "foods," these categories constitute a substantial cause of pollution, biodiversity loss, land and water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Plant Based Treaty focuses on three fundamental concepts to address these problems: renounce (no more deforestation for animal raising), redirect (clear shift from animal-based to plant-based food production systems), and restore (actively restoring ecosystems by planting trees and rewilding landscapes).

It’s not just cities that are getting involved with the Treaty. More than 240 councilors from nearly 60 UK towns and cities have individually signed it. These include Conservative, Green Party, Labour, and Liberal Democrat councilors.

A further 70,000 individuals from across the world have endorsed the campaign. In addition, more than 1,000 businesses and 1,000 NGOs and community groups have done the same. Linda McCartney Foods, BOSH, Extinction Rebellion, the Environmental Alliance Project, and chapters of Greenpeace are among its supporters.

Edinburgh, home to more than half a million people, is now the 20th city or town to endorse the Treaty. It joins Los Angeles (the largest city in California), Boynton Beach in Florida, Haywards Heath in the UK, Didim in Turkey and others who have done the same.

Edinburgh City Council’s decision follows an assessment report that looked at the implications of endorsing the Plant Based Treaty. It was presented at the Policy and Sustainability Committee yesterday (January 17). The treaty could eventually see the council introduce some carbon labelling on menus and transition to more plant based meals in schools and council buildings.

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