Edinburgh, First Capital City in Europe to Adopt Plant-Based Treaty

VIVA – Edinburgh becomes the first country in Europe that commitment to axing meat from its menus in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. The city has chosen to adopt the “Plant-based treaty” including a pledge to promote vegan food over animal products.

The move comes days before Burns Night, the centerpiece of which is haggis, traditionally made from a sheep’s liver, lungs, heart, and stomach.

Edinburgh is the second place in the UK to adopt the treaty, launched in 2021, after Haywards Heath Town Council in West Sussex. It is one of 20 worldwide, including Los Angeles.

The move which could also mean refusing permission to open slaughterhouses in the Edinburgh area – was slammed as 'anti-farming' by the Scottish Countryside Alliance. The alliance's director Jake Swindells said that it was 'pandering to misinformation about livestock farming'.

But supporters said that by changing local diets the city will be able to reduce the greenhouse gases it produces. Meanwhile, a council report said: 'Overall, the science is clear: Meat and dairy consumption must reduce to achieve climate targets.'

The Plant-Based Treaty aims to address the environmental damage caused by the current food system. It does this, in part, by promoting a vegan sector rather than industries that rely on the exploitation of animals, such as beef and dairy products. These categories, like many other animals "foods", are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as pollution, biodiversity loss, and land and water use.

The City of Edinburgh Council's decision follows an assessment report that looked at the implications of passing the Plant-Based Treaty. It was presented at the Policy and Sustainability Committee on January 17, 2023.

"There is strong evidence that diets high in plant-based protein and low in meat and dairy result in lower greenhouse gas emissions, and consequently, shifting consumption to plant-based diets has great mitigation potential," the report read.

It also compares ratifying the Agreement to "declaring a climate emergency". "It is a recognition that the food system is a key driver of the climate emergency and that a shift to a plant-based diet can go a long way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," the report said.

"Overall, the science is clear, meat and dairy consumption must be reduced to achieve climate targets," it concludes.