PRESS RELEASES | 2025

Mataró becomes the fourth Spanish municipality, and the second in Catalonia, to endorse the Plant Based Treaty

Media Contacts:

• Enric Noguera, Plant Based Treaty España, +34 608 77 90 05, [email protected]
• Marina Vall-llosada, Plant Based Treaty España, +34 676 76 23 11, [email protected] 

Media assets: http://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1WtdAYEKT9lbptANtYcO091TB6Zx9Jy3p

Media Contacts:

• Enric Noguera, Plant Based Treaty España, +34 608 77 90 05, [email protected]
• Marina Vall-llosada, Plant Based Treaty España, +34 676 76 23 11, [email protected] 
• Media assets: http://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1WtdAYEKT9lbptANtYcO091TB6Zx9Jy3p 

MATARÓ, Barcelona, Spain, November 8 – Mataró, Barcelona, has become the fourth Spanish municipality, and the second in Catalonia this year, to support a shift towards plant-based food systems. It joins 55 cities, including Parla, El Masnou, and Alcorcón in Spain, as well as major European capitals: Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

Mataró’s Plant Based Treaty endorsement, was announced at a press conference on November 4, and includes a commitment to developing a Local Action Plan to reduce food emissions and promote healthy and sustainable diets.

Mataró’s statement reads: “The Mataró City Council, committed to the Governing Agreement and the Mandate Plan regarding climate change and the green economy, wishes to reinforce this path with a clear and decisive commitment to the fight against the climate crisis and to promoting a green economy and a shift in the production model. Likewise, it is essential to consider the impact of the food system on public health, while a predominantly plant-based diet and locally sourced foods promote better health and reduce the environmental footprint.”

Mataró City Council commits to:

1. Invite the local Plant Based Treaty team to collaborate with the City Council in developing a Local Action Plan within three months and a transition timetable that strengthens the interdepartmental commitment to reducing food emissions and promoting healthy and sustainable diets, consistent with the city’s Food Charter.
2. Urge universities, the Maresme Health Consortium, schools and residences in the province of Barcelona, especially the TecnoCampus in Mataró, to support the Plant Based Treaty and explore the introduction of plant-based menus and plant-based milk by default in their catering services.
3. Urge the Government of Catalonia to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the meat and dairy industries and to intensify emission reduction measures to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, as outlined in the 2019 Climate Emergency Declaration.
4. Notify relevant bodies of the Plant Based Treaty endorsement, including: Agricultural Association “Cinc Sènies–Mata–Valldeix”, in the Mataró Agricultural Space, the Municipal Council of the Environment, Mataró’s twin cities, to the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition and to the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain.

Mayor David Bote said, “We must act decisively in the face of climate change. Every day we see its effects in our cities: torrential rains, extreme temperatures, and increasingly frequent weather events. Cities, in coordination with other levels of government, must work together and garner the commitment of citizens to guarantee a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable future for all. Every little bit helps, and together we can make a difference.”

Deputy Mayor Sergi Morales, the spokesperson for En Comú Podem Mataró, said, “The approval of this Declaration allows Mataró to adhere to an essential initiative, where each municipality plays a key role in advancing climate adaptation and mitigation. Under the premise of ‘think globally, act locally,’ the city government is committed to working on an Action Plan in conjunction with the Plant Based Treaty, to put the health of people and the environment at the forefront of Mataró’s political agenda.”

Marina Vall-llosada, Plant Based Treaty Spain campaigner, said, “We applaud Mataró’s pioneering move to join the Plant Based Treaty. This accession is a clear example of how local action can have a global impact. As the first Catalan city recently recognized as Capital of the Social Economy, Mataró demonstrates that climate justice and food sustainability are inseparable pillars of a fair and thriving society.. The city now positions itself at the forefront, promoting a plant-based food future that is healthier for its citizens and essential for protecting our planet.”

Enric Noguera, UN Affairs Coordinator for the Plant Based Treaty, said, “This month, our team will be in Brazil for the COP30 climate negotiations, most likely an event that will act as a critical moment that will shape the future of our planet. We are on the very edge of climate catastrophe, and governments are not doing nearly enough to match their policies to the challenges we are facing. Mataró’s decision highlights the importance of local power and the need for cities to step up their climate action. Mataró’s determination should act as an inspiration for cities and national governments to follow.”

Background:

The Plant Based Treaty is modelled on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and, since its launch in August 2021, the initiative has received the support of more than 55 cities, almost a quarter of a million individuals, five Nobel laureates, IPCC scientists, and more than 6,000 organizations and companies, including Heura, the Jane Goodall Institute, the Spanish Society for Nutrition and Responsible Medicine (SENUMER), the Association of Residents in Preventive Medicine and Public Health (ARES MPSP), and the Madrid Association of Public Health (AMaSaP).

The Treaty has received the backing of high-profile celebrities, such as Paul, Mary, and Stella McCartney, who issued a written statement urging politicians to support it: “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.”