What, when and who?

The Plant Based Treaty initiative, which is modelled on the Fossil Fuel NonProliferation Treaty launched in 2021 in response to the catastrophic risk of climate, ocean and ecological collapse. The Plant Based Treaty focuses on three core principles: Relinquish, Redirect and Restore in order to halt the expansion of animal agriculture, encourage a shift towards plant-based diets through public education and policy change, and restore and rewild ecosystems.

Background and goals

Our relationship with nature and animals is at the root cause of the climate and ecological emergencies facing our world. Plant Based Treaty’s overarching goal is to facilitate a shift towards a plant-based food system in order to live within safe and just Earth system boundaries. Our two-fold strategy involves building grassroots momentum for a global treaty as a companion to the Paris Agreement to address food system emissions and to expand accessibility to plant-based food in key institutions such as city halls, schools, hospitals and prisons by implementing the best practices in plantbased food policy.

As of September 2023, a broad coalition of more than 100,000 individuals, including 700 politicians, 3,000 NGOs and businesses, and 21 cities, have endorsed the call for a Plant Based Treaty. In 2022 we were awarded UN observer status, and our diverse and globally representative teams are operating in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

Our teams have embraced political advocacy to champion the treaty and best practices in plant-based food policy. Our 2023 highlights include our team in Mexico City delivering a speech in the Chamber of Deputies about our work to promote a plant-based food transition. In New Zealand, we delivered a deposition to Dunedin City Council; Dutch MP Christine Teunissen raised a question in the national parliament about the Plant Based Treaty, and the European Commission welcomed our input for their legislative proposal on a Framework for Sustainable Food Systems. In India, our team successfully lobbied for the first ever 100% plant-based UN conference - COY Odisha. In Buenos Aires, we worked with a prison to release 80 animals to two sanctuaries and helped establish a community garden in the prison grounds, as well as plant-based workshops.

Following Didim, Turkey’s first municipality to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, we forged a successful partnership with the municipal government. As a result, they opened a 100% plant-based kiosk on the seafront promenade, hosted a vegan festival attended by 200,000 people and trained local cafes and restaurants in how to veganise recipes so they could add plant-based menus to their establishments.

Edinburgh, the first European capital to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, is developing a city-wide food strategy due for publication in January 2023. Staff at city hall, along with representatives from 25 UK cities, attended our webinar on food system impacts with Dr Joseph Poore from Oxford University and co hosted by Vegoforum. Edinburgh invited Plant Based Treaty to deliver a workshop to residents about the benefits of plant-based eating as part of ‘Fun Day’ events held at community hubs in deprived neighbourhoods across the city. We attended and gave out fruit, smoothies and oat milk samples to the community and engaged in outreach talking about the benefits and affordability of a plant-based diet.

When the city of Norwich, UK, endorsed the treaty, the council voted to ensure that all food and drinks served at city meetings and events include appropriate plantbased food. Additionally, they utilise civic events to promote and showcase environmentally friendly plant-based food and drink options. This included providing information about the climate and health benefits, as well as relative costs of different food sources, while also informing people about how to achieve a balanced plant-based diet. They also voted to work with community groups across the city to promote the establishment of new and appropriate community gardens as part of their biodiversity strategy.

Since our launch, we have attracted global mass media coverage with tens of millions reach from outlets including BBC, Al Jazera, Reuters, Guardian, The Times, Telegraph, Jerusalem Post, Brussels Times, CBC, Forbes, Carbon Brief, Georgia Today, The Week and Time Out.