PRESS RELEASES | 2024

Protest inside COP29 urges countries to negotiate a global Plant Based Treaty that has been endorsed by 33 cities including Amsterdam, Los Angeles and Edinburgh

Media Contacts:

At COP29:

Kimmy Cushman, Plant Based Treaty scientific advisor, [email protected], +34 673 58 94 80

Enric Noguera, Plant Based Treaty Europe, [email protected], +34 608 779 005

Offsite: [email protected] 

North America: Anita Krajnc, global campaign coordinator, +14168256080, [email protected]

UK: Nicola Harris, communications director, +447597514343, [email protected]

Media Contacts:
At COP29:

Kimmy Cushman, Plant Based Treaty scientific advisor, [email protected], +34 673 58 94 80

Enric Noguera, Plant Based Treaty Europe, [email protected], +34 608 779 005

Offsite: [email protected]

North America: Anita Krajnc, global campaign coordinator, +14168256080, [email protected]

UK: Nicola Harris, communications director, +447597514343, [email protected]

November 14, Baku — Crowds gathered inside the main entrance at COP29 as a lively protest erupted in Zone B, calling for countries to negotiate a global Plant Based Treaty as an add on to the Paris Agreement. The proposed treaty has been endorsed by 33 cities, including Los Angeles, Amsterdam and Edinburgh.

During the protest, Plant Based Treaty scientific advisor Kimmy Cushman addressed the crowd: 

“It’s time to go plant-based for the planet. Western diets could save 75% of food emissions with a transition to plant-based food systems. We are in a climate crisis and we are in a biodiversity crisis. Animal agriculture is the number one force destroying the planet. If we transition to a global plant-based food system, we could reforest and rewild 75% of agricultural land. We need a just transition now. 33 cities, 200k individuals and 3,500 groups and businesses have called on nations to negotiate a global Plant Based Treaty so we can say yes to lower emissions, yes to rewilding and yes to improved health, yes to feeding humans instead of farmed animals.”

Protesters chanted loudly, with slogans like “Diet change, not climate change! Menu change, not climate change!” and “What do we want? A Plant Based Treaty! When do we want it? Now!”

Earlier in the week, Plant Based Treaty advocates held a press conference highlighting the necessity of global cooperation to scale up plant-based solutions. Campaigners Enric Noguera and Cindy Veltens presented the Plant Based Treaty in Action, an update to their 2023 Safe and Just Report launched at COP28. The Plant Based Treaty in Action showcases cities worldwide implementing the treaty’s 40 proposed actions.

They presented the case studies of Edinburgh, and Amsterdam:

• Edinburgh endorsed Plant Based Treaty in 2023 and is introducing carbon labelling into schools and universities. 
• Amsterdam endorsed the Plant Based Treaty in 2024 and will enter an agreement with major employers, public institutions such as hospitals, community centres, and care institutions to introduce Vegan Fridays in public institutions and for the city to reach a 60/40 plant-based-to-animal protein ratio by 2030.

Enric Noguera, Plant Based Treaty European City Campaigner, who joined the protest, emphasized the importance of a treaty: “Negotiating a global Plant Based Treaty as part of the Paris Agreement is key to addressing a third of greenhouse gas emissions caused by food systems. Cities like Edinburgh and Amsterdam are already implementing a number of Plant Based Treaty’s 40 suggested proposals, and showing the rest of the world how it’s done. A treaty can help scale up and secure resources to support a just plant-based transition.”

Background
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 220,000 individual endorsers, 5 Nobel laureates, 1000+ elected officials, IPCC scientists, and 3500 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.”