Eight regional councils have joined forces to form the Wide Bay Burnett and Central Queensland Climate Resilient Alliance, and PETA is asking officials to make their climate commitment more meaningful and “practice what you preach” by serving only animal-free foods at meetings and functions.

It’s great that councils are united against climate change impact, but it’s meaningless virtue signalling if they’re not also doing all they can to subvert climate change. Experts confirm that going vegan is the single biggest thing we can do to help curb climate change, and it also happens to be the simplest. Delicious and green catering at Alliance meetings would prove they are willing to walk the walk.

Vegan Food Initiatives at Councils Around the World

In the UK, Nottingham City Council announced that all food served at internal council events will be plant-based in recognition of the role animal agriculture plays in the climate catastrophe.

“Our Carbon Neutral 2028 Action Plan includes a list of food-related actions, reflecting our awareness of its significant contribution to the city’s footprint – particularly the high-carbon impact of meat and dairy products.” – Councillor Sam Lux, executive member for carbon reduction, leisure and culture, Nottingham City Council

And Oxford City Council voted unanimously for all food served at internal council meetings to be 100% plant-based.

“In the UK we eat twice as much meat and dairy as the global average, which is not sustainable on a finite planet, as there is not enough land in the world to meet this demand. The rate at which we are eating meat and dairy is the leading cause of modern species extinctions.” – Paula Dunne, former councillor and Climate and Environment Panel member, Oxford City Council

In Europe, to help combat the climate catastrophe, Helsinki City Council does not serve meat or cows’ milk at council events. The council has also created a website and app called Think Sustainably, which city residents and visitors can use to find restaurants and cafés serving vegan food.

And the Brussels city council has expanded the selection of vegetarian options at city events and institutions and plans for 75% of school meals to be vegetarian by 2030.

Here at home, Stonnington Concil encourages residents to eat vegan to reduce their carbon footprint as part of the its climate emergency action plan. And Yarra City Council in Melbourne also encourages residents to eat plant-based to combat the climate catastrophe.

Why Vegan?

In our letter to the Wide Bay Burnett and Central Queensland Climate Resilient Alliance, we explain that a new study warnes that the world is on course towards several climate “tipping points” (points of no return) if humans continue the habits contributing to the climate crisis. It’s clear for any act of environmental stewardship to be taken seriously, it can’t be fuelled by the flesh of animals. Animal agriculture has been flagged as a leading driver of climate change due largely to ruminant animal emissions of methane. Australia’s 30 million-strong cattle population is estimated to produce 1.4 million tonnes of methane emissions from enteric fermentation yearly. Animal agriculture’s giant water footprint, and the substantial land clearing of native habitat that takes place to make room to breed, raise and slaughter animals, compound the issue.

Vegan food initiatives also prevent cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, fish, and other sensitive animals from enduring a life of misery and suffering on crowded, filthy farms. All animals feel pain, love, and joy, and they value their lives, just as humans do. None of them go willingly to slaughter.

You can speak out for animals and the climate by contacting your local councillors and asking them to implement a policy to serve only vegan food at all council events.