Campaigners urged town hall bosses to ditch meat at events to help tackle the climate crisis.
Flanked by people holding a banner reader 'Plant Based Councils', South Hampstead resident Sam Ebner-Landy asked Camden Council on Monday (November 20) to offer only plant-based food.
He told councillors the borough's three largest sources of harmful household carbon dioxide emissions, which drive climate change, are food, housing and transport.
More than a quarter of food emissions come from meat, but it only provides five per cent of the volume of food Londoners eat, he said.
Mr Ebner-Landy told councillors: “This year we’ve seen devastating wildfires, extreme heat and mass migrations across the world driven by global heating.”
He pointed out that residents told Camden Council in 2019 to ‘encourage low carbon dietary choices’ and ‘green the council’s operations’. It also advises them that eating less meat and dairy produce such as milk and cheese would help cut emissions.
Sam Ebner-Landy asks Camden Council to ditch meat. Pic Julia Gregory, free for use by partners of BBC news wire service
If Londoners reduced the amount of meat they eat by 70 per cent it would cut the capital’s consumption-based emissions by 20 per cent, according to ReLondon, a partnership between the Mayor of London and councils set up to tackle the climate emergency.
Mr Ebner-Landy, who has changed his diet, urged the council to ensure all food offered at internal meetings and events is plant-based.
He said: “Not only will this reduce the council’s emissions, prevent deforestation and reduce wastage of fresh water, it will also encourage residents to take up plant-based eating habits themselves.”
Campaigners ask Camden Council to ditch meat. Pic Julia Gregory, free for use by partners of BBC news wire service
He called on Camden to join councils including Lewisham, Enfield, and Oxfordshire County Council in ditching meat at its events.
He said: “Not only will this reduce the council’s emissions, prevent deforestation and reduce wastage of fresh water, it will also encourage residents to take up plant-based eating habits themselves.”
Mr Ebner-Landy said many versions of a plant-based diet are cheaper than eating meat, such as lentils, which are much more affordable than chicken.
He added: “We all know that social change can be slow, but this is a crucial change in our history if we want to secure our future.”
Cllr Adam Harrison, cabinet member for a sustainable Camden, said the council’s food mission aims to see everyone eating healthily.
He said the council offers plant-based food for staff and half of the food at events is also meat-free.
The council’s schools are also opting out of meat on some of their menus, he said.
Plant-Based Councils is a group that describes itself as encouraging councils across the UK to address the climate and biodiversity crises by ensuring food and drink at meetings and events is 100% plant-based, and promoting the benefits of plant-based eating to residents.
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