Vegan activist and founder of VBites, Heather Mills, recently named Woman of the Year at this year’s Vegan Women Summit, previously announced she was to appear at the Bonn Climate Conference to call for a global Plant Based Treaty and hand out 2000 free VBites hotdogs.
During the event in Germany this week, Mills together with around a dozen climate activists began an impromptu protest inside the dining hall while delegates and UN officials queued for their lunch, with chants of, “If you care about the climate, eat vegan for your lunch” and “Food system change now, sign the Plant Based Treaty.”
“…why is he not talking about the real issue; production of meat, fish and dairy which like fossil fuels is a huge contributor of CO2”
“Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General gave a great speech yesterday BUT why is he not talking about the real issue; production of meat, fish and dairy which like fossil fuels is a huge contributor of CO2, it’s bigger than the whole transport sector,” said Mills at the event.
She further stated, “Everyone can make a massive difference right now, just by choosing to eat vegan. It’s proven to be better for the planet, for the animals and it’s better for our health. Climate Conferences like Bonn and the upcoming COP29 can do better, by serving only plant-based food. They should be showcasing the very best in sustainability.”
Demanding change
Heather Mills was part of a larger group advocating for both individual action and the implementation of city-based initiatives. They are also pushing for a global Plant-Based Treaty to address the detrimental effects of meat and dairy on the environment and to promote a transition to a plant-based food system.
Last year, London Assembly Member Zack Polanski, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, penned an open letter urging London Mayor Sadiq Khan to endorse the Plant-Based Treaty. Polanski emphasized the critical role of plant-based diets in combating the climate and ecological crises.
In a recent development, Conservative Assembly Member Andrew Boff confronted Mayor Khan during Mayor’s Question Time, questioning why London has not yet signed the Plant-Based Treaty. Boff urged the Mayor to integrate the Plant-Based Treaty into the London Plan.
Lia Phillips, Plant Based Treaty UK city campaigner said, “We’ve had almost 30 years of COPs and we are waiting for a global agreement on the food system. Plant Based Treaty has presented a pathway that world leaders could attach to the Paris Agreement. The science says that even if we ended fossil fuels we are destined for a climate catastrophe if we don’t transform the food system.
“…even if we ended fossil fuels we are destined for a climate catastrophe if we don’t transform the food system”
We need to do this now. A plant-based food system would be Paris aligned as well as address pressing issues like food insecurity, biodiversity loss, food-related disease and the risk of pandemics.”
Further information at https://plantbasedtreaty.org/
