by Shriya Swaminathan
Earlier this week, the City Council of Berkeley took their implementation of planet-friendly policies to an unprecedented level by passing a resolution to curtail city purchases of animal products by a whopping 50% by 2024. The resolution pledges to phase out all animal products and replace them with plants in the long term. As a result, the city will feature predominantly plant-powered meals at city-sponsored locations and events.
This commitment comes from the dedicated advocacy by Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). They were supported by a coalition of other animal and environmental advocacy groups- Extinction Rebellion Oakland, The Animal Save Movement, East Bay Animal PAC, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and The Suitcase Clinic.
DxE Lead Organizer Almira Tanner said- “The public is rising up and taking action against the destructiveness of animal agriculture.” “We’re hopeful this historic step can spur a wave of legislation to protect all life on Earth while we still have time,” she adds.
The resolution authored by Mayor Jesse Arreguín and Councilmember Sophie Hahn states-
“Berkeley has been a leader in addressing climate change, passing and implementing numerous measures that reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve the environmental quality of our community, region, and world. One critically important sector that accounts for about 25% of global GHG emissions and significant emissions here in Berkeley is our food.”
“It is clear that the world cannot meet global GHG reduction targets without significantly curbing consumption of animal products. High-meat-eating nations like the United States, which consumes 2.6 times more meat than the global per capita average, must help shoulder this responsibility.”
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19731211/carbon_impact_of_food.jpg)
Mayor Arreguín feels it’s the city’s responsibility to set a positive example by pioneering programs that will yield the scale of results we need to combat climate change and preserve all life forms on Earth.
“This is a very important step for the city to take as part of our broader climate efforts, as well as building on our long tradition promoting the humane treatment of animals here in the city of Berkeley.”
– Mayor Arreguín
What’s Next?
These efforts must expand to cities throughout the country and globe. The coalition that originally advocated for a 100% plant-based policy, is hopeful that continued pressure and public support will yield this desired result. However, in the interim, a 50% commitment is highly commendable. They are also gearing up to give the city of San Francisco, Chicago, and more, a planet-saving, plant-based upgrade- encouraging them to make similar commitments!
It’s about TIME! So glad to see Berkeley take this step. Now let’s see every city across America do the same. It’s way past time to end this horrifically systemic violence against innocent animals and their babies!