Policy

Jointly-signed letter to UNEP on promoting plant-rich diets for the health of people and the planet

4 June 2020

Image: Usplash

ProVeg International, as part of a coalition of 30 civil society organisations committed to ensuring sustainable, equitable food systems, has sent a jointly-signed letter to the United Nations Environment Programme, expressing support for the programme’s work and to the wish to develop a shared agenda.

Co-signed by environmental and animal rights groups such as Greenpeace, the Better Food Foundation, and the Center for Biological Diversity, the letter was sent on the eve of the 48th anniversary of the foundation of UNEP and World Environment Day, June 5th.

The two-page letter highlights the dramatic impact which the industrial-livestock sector has had on climate change, deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss. The co-signatories made special mention of the numerous connections the current COVID-19 pandemic has shown exist between food systems and the outbreak of zoonotic diseases

Read our open letter to UNEP

Promoting plant-rich diets for resilient food systems and planetary and human health.

Update: The UNEP reply to our letter

“The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is conscious that eating sustainably is one of the most effective things individuals can do to combat climate change, while also reducing impacts on land, water use, and biodiversity.”

“In this context, we urge UNEP to further advocate for plant-rich diets and truly sustainable food systems. This is essential to tackling environmental degradation and climate change, while mitigating the risks of pandemics and moving towards more resilient societies and economies.”

Jointly-signed letter to Ms Inger Anderson, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme

2020 and beyond

‘Time for Nature’ has been the theme chosen by UNEP which published a manifesto and guide calling for the people of the world to reimagine our relationship with nature, and pointing to dietary changes towards “more environmentally friendly foods, especially our main protein sources” as part of the solutions to “act for nature”.

Upcoming discussions between UN member states at the fifth sessions of the UN Environment Assembly, and the UN Food System Summit in 2021 will mark the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The open letter to UNEP expresses a hope that civil society organisations will be given a chance to have their voices heard during these important agenda-setting meetings.

Click here to read the jointly-signed letter to UNEP.

The following civil society organisations joined ProVeg International in signing this letter:

50 by 40
https://50by40.org/

Animal Legal Defense Fund
https://aldf.org/

A well fed world
https://awellfedworld.org/

Better Food Foundation
https://www.betterfoodfoundation.org/

Brighter Green
https://brightergreen.org/

Center for Biological Diversity
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

Compassion in World Farming
https://www.ciwf.org.uk/

Doctors for nutrition
https://www.doctorsfornutrition.org/

Farm Forward
https://www.farmforward.com/

Feedback
https://feedbackglobal.org/