Hackney Council invited to endorse Plant Based Treaty and create a plant-based action plan to address the climate and ecological crisis

PRESS RELEASES | 2024

Hackney Council invited to endorse Plant Based Treaty and create a plant-based action plan to address the climate and ecological crisis

(London – August 3, 2024) — At a full council meeting in Hackney on Wednesday 24 July, local Stoke Newington residents Lia Phillips and Louisa Hillwood delivered passionate speeches requesting a serious commitment from councillors to address food system impacts which account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Lia Phillips, Plant Based Treaty campaigner, invited Hackney Council to join 30 councils including Edinburgh, Belfast, Norwich and Lambeth to endorse the call for a global Plant Based Treaty and implement a plant-based action plan to normalise and promote plant-based diets. Phillips said, “Plant Based Treaty are creating bottom-up pressure for world leaders to negotiate a global treaty that encourages a shift towards healthy plant-based diets. One way to create pressure is for cities to endorse our call for a Plant Based Treaty and work on local implementation of the best practices in plant-based food policy.

Media Contacts:

- London, UK: Lia Phillips, Plant Based Treaty campaigner,
  [email protected]
- Global: [email protected]

Media Files: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1muDzpG8Or1Nyt6dvxEReHCrn8xjbak2_

Media Contacts:

- London, UK: Lia Phillips, Plant Based Treaty campaigner,
  [email protected]
- Global: [email protected]

Media Files: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1muDzpG8Or1Nyt6dvxEReHCrn8xjbak2_

Lia Phillips, Plant Based Treaty campaigner, invited Hackney Council to join 30 councils including, Edinburgh, Belfast, Norwich and Lambeth, to endorse the call for a global Plant Based Treaty and implement a plant-based action plan to normalise and promote plant-based diets. Phillips said, “Plant Based Treaty are creating bottom-up pressure for world leaders to negotiate a global treaty that encourages a shift towards healthy plant-based diets. One way to create pressure is for cities to endorse our call for a Plant Based Treaty and work on local implementation of the best practices in plant-based food policy.

This commitment could involve creating a local food strategy featuring initiatives such as carbon labelling, plant-based default options in schools, public education campaigns to reduce meat consumption and plant-based catering at council meetings and events.”

Louisa Hillwood, from Plant-Based Councils, said, “I grew up in Australia, but my family is largely British – meat and dairy is huge in both cultures . . . But there came a point a few years ago when I was ready to acknowledge that I could choose food that was far better for the planet, for animals and for me. And I could, if I wanted, eat exactly the same types of foods as I was before. I could still shop at the same supermarkets, have meals with my family, and celebrate the holidays and traditions of my culture.”

Local residents who held a rally ahead of the meeting in support of Plant-Based Councils and Plant Based Treaty were heard clapping and cheering from the public gallery in support.

Councillor Coban, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, who will soon take up the role of Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy at the London Assembly, responded positively to Phillips and Hillwood. He said that the council would have 100% plant-based catering by 2030.

Background

Plant Based Treaty

Plant Based Treaty draws inspiration from landmark treaties addressing threats like ozone layer depletion and nuclear weapons. It advocates for a global agreement to align the food system with the Paris Agreement and implement best practices in plant-based food policy at city and institutional levels. The proposed treaty has been endorsed by 30 cities, including Edinburgh, Belfast, Los Angeles and Amsterdam. It has received support from 150,000 individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, 1000+ elected officials, IPCC scientists, and 3000 groups and businesses, including Made in Hackney, the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change and the Green Party of England and Wales. High-profile celebrity endorsements include Joaquin Phoenix, Alicia Silverstone, and Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, who said: “We believe in justice for animals, the environment and people. That’s why we support the Plant Based Treaty and urge individuals and governments to sign it.”

To sign the Plant Based Treaty, visit www.plantbasedtreaty.org and to start a team in your community, register here: www.plantbasedtreaty.org/start

Plant Based Councils

Louisa Hillwood is a local campaigner with Animal Rising’s Plant-Based Councils campaign – a national initiative of local residents who are pushing for their councils to adopt 100% plant-based catering. The campaign is active in 32 councils, with the group encouraging interested residents to sign up to run a local campaign on their website – www.plantbasedcouncils.org/join.