Photo by Anna Pelzer.
Editor’s note: The following is a submitted opinion piece, one in a series, as part of ‘October is Plantiful,’ a project of 350 Kingston aimed at educating the public about the environmental benefits of plant-based foods. The City of Kingston officially proclaimed “October is Plantiful” at the Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, meeting of Kingston City Council. The agenda for that meeting, including correspondence received by Council from 350 Kingston, is available on the City of Kingston website, and the meeting itself can be viewed in full on the Kingston City Council YouTube channel. Mayor Bryan Paterson signed the official “October is Plantiful” proclamation on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023.
Subsequently, the City of Kingston has once again declared that “October is Plantiful” this year, with Mayor Paterson signing the official proclamation on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Kingstonist.
Submitted document.
“October is Plantiful!”
For the second consecutive year, a dedicated group of volunteers from 350 Kingston is hosting Plantiful, a month-long series of events aimed at encouraging Kingston residents to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets—for the benefit of their health and the environment. The importance of shifting towards more plant-based food options has been a recurring topic in local discussions, promoted through groups like the Plant-Based Cities Movement, who have emphasized the role of sustainable food choices in addressing climate challenges.
Leading the way toward a sustainable future
As the climate crisis continues to escalate, the need for transformative changes in how we produce and consume food has never been more urgent. The Plant-Based Cities Movement (PBCM) was founded in response to the United Nations’ 2021 declaration of a “Code Red for Humanity” and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports from 2019 and 2022. PBCM aims to mobilize citizens, governments, and institutions to prioritize plant-based food in their procurement policies, reducing reliance on animal-based products as a crucial step in lowering food-related emissions.
At the heart of the PBCM mission is the recognition that cities, as hubs of human activity and food consumption, can drive meaningful change. More than 82 per cent of Canadians live in urban areas, making cities a focal point for efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By working with municipalities and institutions to shift toward more plant-based food systems, PBCM not only helps lower emissions but also addresses public health, food security challenges, and environmental degradation.
Why food emissions matter
Despite the significant role food plays in climate change, most Canadian cities have not included food emissions in their climate action plans. A major comprehensive study by Poore and Nemecek in 2018 showed that food production is responsible for 19.6 per cent of direct global warming forcing, and that figure rises to 28 per cent when the lost opportunity for carbon sequestration is factored in. A total of 58 per cent of those emissions stem from animal-based foods. By switching to more plant-based offerings, cities can make a direct impact on climate targets.
Graph from the 2018 Poore and Nemecek study on food production and carbon emissions. Submitted image.
Environmental impact
As urban areas continue to expand, their demand for food intensifies, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and putting increased pressure on land use, accelerating biodiversity loss
The Poore & Nemecek study demonstrated that livestock farming uses 83 per cent of global agricultural land while providing only 18 per cent of our calories and 37 per cent of our protein. This massive land use is displacing natural ecosystems, leading to the loss of critical habitats and species. According to the research articles The global biomass of wild mammals | PNAS, and The biomass distribution on Earth, the world’s biomass is estimated to consist of approximately 59 per cent livestock, 36 per cent humans, and only 5 per cent wild mammals.
Graph from the 2018 Poore and Nemecek study on food production and carbon emissions. Submitted image.
Graph from the 2018 Poore and Nemecek study on food production and carbon emissions. Submitted image.
By eating plants directly, rather than consuming animals that are fed on crops, we would significantly reduce the amount of land required for food production. This shift could enable rewilding efforts and greatly contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Restoring just 15 per cent of the land currently used for agriculture in priority areas could prevent 60 per cent of expected extinctions over the next several decades.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has similarly emphasized that our food systems are harming the health of people and planet, and it advocates for a transition to more plant-based diets to reduce the risks of disease, environmental harm, and loss of biodiversity.
To learn more about how shifting to more plant-based diets can mitigate these environmental challenges, explore our PBCM blogs on The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity is on Our Plates and the Environmental Impacts of our current food system.
PBCM leadership on plant-based policies
Since its inception in 2021, PBCM has made several significant inroads with Canadian municipalities.
In May 2022, following the independent lobbying efforts of both the Sustainable Food Transition Coalition and PBCM, the City of Montréal under the leadership of Mayor Valérie Plante passed a plant-based motion committing to the adherence to the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration and related plant-based commitments including:
Developing a strategy for implementing the C40 Declaration , from an inclusive and equitable perspective;
, from an inclusive and equitable perspective; Aligning its food procurement policies with The Planetary Health Diet – EAT , ideally with organically grown food;
, ideally with organically grown food; Ensuring that at least 75 per cent of the food served at city-organized events is vegetarian;
served at city-organized events is vegetarian; Supporting an overall increase in the consumption of plant-based foods , by encouraging the population to choose healthy and sustainable diets;
, by encouraging the population to choose healthy and sustainable diets; Working with concessionaires operating food service areas, particularly in large parks, to ensure a greater proportion of their offerings are plant-based.
PBCM has successfully collaborated with three other municipalities who have passed plant-based motions including Brampton, Ont. (August 2022), Halton Region, Ont. (July 2023), and the District of North Vancouver, BC (May 2024), and continues to broaden its reach, working with additional municipalities across Canada.
Canadian University Initiative
One of our cornerstone achievements has been the Canadian University Initiative, which was launched in the fall of 2020 by our PBCM President. Over the past four years, this initiative has engaged with universities across the country to encourage plant-based dining options in campus food services. This initiative aligns with broader sustainability goals and has gained traction at a number of universities including the following who presented at our biannual steering committee: University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, University of Toronto, Queen’s University, Université de Montréal, University of Guelph, McMaster University, Western University, University of Ottawa, and Concordia University. Two key plant forward organizations, Forward Food – Canada and Greener by Default, have been instrumental in assisting PBCM in advancing plant-forward meals and education across universities and other institutions.
For more details and an in-depth overview of this initiative, please visit our PBCM blog and watch our video.
In addition to municipalities and universities, PBCM is also working with private and government institutions to advance their plant-based food policies. These efforts underscore the power of institutional change in reducing food emissions and promoting healthier, more sustainable diets.
Looking to curb the emissions produced to bring your meals to your table? Foraging for your own produce is an emissions-free way to procure a myriad of local, naturally grown foods, including mushrooms, berries, flowers, herbs, and more! For those in the Kingston area, Portsmouth Urban Forager Sheila Nemcsok offers great information and tips, and sometimes hosts workshops through the Kingston Frontenac Public Libraries. Photo by Annie Spratt.
The path forward – join the movement
As climate disasters including raging wildfires, devastating floods, and extreme heat waves continue to unfold across the globe, the urgency of systemic change is irrefutable. Local communities and institutions are increasingly recognizing the powerful role food plays in environmental sustainability.
Successful movements are driven by the collective efforts of individuals pushing for change and urging political leaders to make bold decisions. As cities across Canada, including Kingston, take action to meet their climate and sustainability goals, the Plant-Based Cities Movement is here to assist with their transition. Our actions today will define the future, not only for ourselves but for generations to come.
If you are ready to be part of this critical movement, we invite you to contact the Plant Based Cities Movement at [email protected] and sign up for our newsletter.
Eleanor Carrara MBA, B.Sc.
President, Plant-Based Cities Movement
Founder, Canadian University Initiative
**Plantiful Events**
Webinar: Strategies for reducing your food emissions. Thursday. Oct. 10, 2024, at 7 p.m. — register for zoom link at 350Kingston.org.
PLANTIFUL FARE: Saturday Oct. 26, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Spire on Sydenham Street. Sample delicious plant-based foods, listen to a talk by local physician Dr. Henry Swoboda on the benefits of plant-based diets, and take home a booklet of family-friendly recipes,
Share your views! Submit a Letter to the Editor or an Op/Ed article to Kingstonist’s Editor-in-Chief Tori Stafford at [email protected].