2021 Press Releases
Australian MPs Endorse Plant Based Treaty & Call for Global Strategy to End Animal Agriculture at COP26
Media Contact(s): [email protected]
Canada: Anita Krajnc +1 (416) 825-6080
United Kingdom: Nicola Harris +(44) 7597 514 343
Emma Hurst MP tables motion calling on the government to roll out a plan to transition to a plant-based economy.
12 October, 2021
As COP 26 draws near, a number of Australian politicians have endorsed the new Plant Based Treaty which calls on world leaders to negotiate and implement a global agreement about a transition to a plant based economy.
Emma Hurst, MLC who is issuing a notice of motion in the NSW Parliament today says:
“As the first Australian politician to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, I am putting forward a Notice of Motion in NSW Parliament calling on the Australian Government to recognise the negative impact of industrial animal agribusiness on climate change and commit to developing a strategy to transition towards more sustainable plant-based food systems.
“Right now millions of animals are facing the terror of the slaughterhouse and our climate crisis is edging closer to the point of becoming irreversible. We need to stop ignoring the truth – animal agribusiness is destroying the planet. But it’s not too late for a solution.
“Our planet and all who live on it are in crisis, and that crisis will only get worse unless governments recognise that animal agribusiness is one of the greatest causes of climate change. We cannot wait any longer. The time for action is now.””
The notice of motion supports the new Plant Based Treaty initiative launched on 31 August 2021, which calls on national governments to negotiate a landmark international treaty—the first of its kind to put food systems at the heart of combating the climate crisis. The treaty has also received endorsement from Andy Meddick MP and Mark Pearson MP.
The motion follows similar calls in the UK parliament, where 14 MP lent their support to EDM 434 which calls on the government to “use COP26 in Glasgow as an opportunity to be a world leader in recognising the negative impact of industrial animal agriculture on climate change and commit to developing a global strategy to transition towards more sustainable plant-based food systems”.
Greta Cuthell, 17, from Melbourne and youth ambassador for the Plant Based Treaty says, “Climate change is an existential threat and that it is the most important issue of all, and yet we just carry on like before. As a passionate vegan and environmental activist, fighting for climate justice and an equitable world for all life on earth I fully support Emma Hurst MP in calling for the Australian Government to use the upcoming Glasgow Climate Change Conference to act as a world leader on plant-based climate action now!”
Anita Krajnc, global campaign coordinator at Plant Based Treaty says, “The IPCC sixth assessment makes clear that we are facing a methane emergency and a third of those emissions comes from animal agriculture. We have five years at best to make major changes or face climate catastrophe. Therefore we applaud the 3 Australian politicians who are asking for political debate in parliament on the need to quickly switch to sustainable plant-based foods. It’s a matter of our survival.”
The Plant Based Treaty is fast gaining political support with city councillors across the world and the cities of Boynton Beach, Florida and Rosario, Argentina endorsing it.
Ahead of COP26 preparations, politicians from across the globe are being encouraged to sign on to an open statement created by organisers of the Plant Based Treaty to urge governments to address animal agriculture and its impact on the climate, ocean, biodiversity and animal crisis.
ENDS
ABOUT THE PLANT BASED TREATY
As a companion to the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement, the Plant Based Treaty is a grassroots initiative calling upon national governments to negotiate a landmark international treaty—the first of its kind to put food systems at the heart of combating the climate crisis.
The Treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture, to promote a shift to more healthy, sustainable plant-based diets and to actively reverse damage done to planetary functions, ecosystem services and biodiversity.
Website https://plantbasedtreaty.org/
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Full Text of the Motion:
Notice of Motion:
Ms Hurst says—
Mr PRESIDENT:
I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move:
- That this House notes that:
(a) On 31 August 2021, the Plant-Based Treaty was launched worldwide
(b) As a companion to the Paris Agreement, the Plant-Based Treaty is a landmark international treaty which puts food systems at the heart of combating the climate crisis
(c) The Plant-Based Treaty aims to stop the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture, to promote a shift to healthy, sustainable plant-based diets and to actively reverse damage done to planetary functions, ecosystem services and biodiversity
(d) Animal agribusiness is responsible for roughly 66% of all ‘food’ annual emissions, yet it is too often left out of the climate conversation
(e) I was proud to be the first Australian politician to endorse the Plant-Based Treaty, along with my colleague Mark Pearson MP, and look forward to other Australians joining me in signing the treaty
- That this House calls on the Australian Government to use the upcoming Glasgow Climate Change Conference as an opportunity to be a world leader in recognising the negative impact of industrial animal agriculture on climate change and commit to developing a strategy to transition towards more sustainable plant-based food systems
MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]
Canada:
Anita Krajnc, Plant Based Treaty Global Campaign Coordinator: +1 (416) 825-6080
United Kingdom:
Nicola Harris, Plant Based Treaty Communications Director: +(44) 7597 514 343
Australia:
Emma Hurst MP
0401 991 792