PRESS RELEASES | 2025

Lisbon Parish, Campolide, calls for a Plant Based Treaty and commits to public education campaigns

Media Contacts:

• Noel Santos, City Campaigner: [email protected], +351935403296
• Anita Krajnc, Global Campaign Coordinator: [email protected], +14168256080

Media assets: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1enkHaywwGnaGbX-JJh1dVC4RlFDnqDCg 

Media Contacts:

• Noel Santos, City Campaigner: [email protected], +351935403296
• Anita Krajnc, Global Campaign Coordinator: [email protected], +14168256080

Media assets: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1enkHaywwGnaGbX-JJh1dVC4RlFDnqDCg 

July 25 2025 – Campolide, a parish in the City of Lisbon, Portugal, has officially endorsed the Plant Based Treaty, joining the Portuguese cities of Braga and Tavira. With this endorsement, Campolide becomes the 44th municipality worldwide to call for the Plant Based Treaty to be added to the Paris Agreement and to champion urgent food system transformation as a critical solution to the climate crisis.

The motion was introduced on July 9th by Catia Costa, Secretary for Animal Welfare and Environmental Protection, and was unanimously approved by all five members of the parish executive. In its motion, the Parish of Campolide recognises the climate emergency and environmental degradation as pressing global threats, highlighting the significant impact of food systems on greenhouse gas emissions, natural resource depletion, and public health.

Miguel Belo Marques, President of the Campolide Parish Council, said, “We cannot wait for others to solve everything. It is our responsibility, as local government officials, to recognize the transformative power of a local, fair, and sustainable food system in the fight against climate change.”

Campolide’s implementation measures include: 

1. Promoting sustainable plant-based meals at Parish Council events, with information on climate impact, health benefits, and cost comparisons to support a shift to balanced, nutritionally complete plant-based diets.
2. Actively promoting sustainable and accessible eating habits among the population. This will cover the climate and health benefits of plant-based foods and beverages, as well as practical guidelines for a balanced diet. 
3. Continuing to support and actively work with the community in the preservation and use of community gardens, recognizing their role in promoting food sovereignty and local sustainability.
4. Working to disseminate information to schools and young people, with the aim of actively influencing and informing them about food choices and their impact on the environment, health, and animal welfare. 
5. Actively promoting the sale of locally sourced plant-based products among local government employees, encouraging conscious consumption and appreciation of regional production.
6. Establishing strategic partnerships with community groups and non-profit organizations to organize and promote plant-based cooking workshops.
7. Developing and implementing activities in schools, with a special focus on promoting organic horticulture and raising awareness of the origin and impact of food.

Noel Santos, Plant Based Treaty City Campaigner, Portugal, said: “The Plant Based Treaty advocates for a food revolution, and for that to happen, we need local power to be the driving force, empowering communities to build climate resilience through conscious and sustainable food choices.”

Background

The Plant Based Treaty is modeled on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and since its launch in August 2021, the initiative has received support from 44 cities, almost a quarter of a million individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, IPCC scientists, and more than 3000 groups and businesses.

The Plant Based Treaty has secured high-profile endorsements from celebrities, including Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney, who issued a written statement calling for politicians to support the Plant-Based Treaty. They 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.”