2023 has no doubt been a challenging year in many ways, including for our environment. July of 2023 was the hottest month ever recorded, leading the UN Secretary-General to declare that “the era of global warming has ended” and “the era of global boiling has arrived.” Scientists have also predicted that within the next five years, global temperatures will breach the crucial 1.5°C warming threshold within which we may be able to avoid a climate disaster. While the breach is expected to be temporary as the global temperature fluctuates, it is not a good sign. The report also concludes there is a 98% chance that one of the next five years will be the warmest ever recorded.
The Earth’s biodiversity is increasingly threatened as we clear more and more forest, mainly to feed livestock. A report by the World Economic Forum recently stated that “As agriculture is threatening wildlife, it’s replacing it with livestock.”
While two recent environmental United Nations conferences, COP27 (on climate change) and COP15 (on biodiversity) touched on the importance of plant-based eating, both failed to make commitments that would take action on the devastating impacts of animal agriculture. The latest UN climate conference, COP28, focussed heavily on the impacts of fossil fuels. That said, the conference also highlighted the importance of eating sustainably, with at least 2/3 of the conference menu being vegan or vegetarian. This decision followed an open letter from a UN youth constituency calling on the conference to set an example by serving plant-based food.
In Canada, more progress is needed. A recent report comparing individual consumption patterns regarding food, housing, personal transport, goods, leisure, and services across 10 countries found that Canada’s per capita emissions surpassed those of the other countries studied in all categories. The researchers concluded that adopting a vegan diet is the second most impactful emission-reducing lifestyle strategy for Canadians, behind car-free private traveling. Our House of Commons recently passed bill C-275, a piece of “ag gag” legislation marketed as a biosecurity bill. The bill is now being considered by our Senate. You may wish to add your voice against this bill by signing a petition created by Animal Justice.
Amid all these challenges, there has been some positive progress. Both the science and the plant-based movement are making it more difficult to ignore the harms of animal agriculture. Oxford scientists have recently released yet another study confirming that a vegan diet is massively better for the planet. Plant-based foods have continued to explode in popularity, with Fortune Business Insights projecting that the global vegan food market will grow from $26.16 billion in 2021 to $61.35 billion in 2028, representing an annual growth rate of 12.95%. The mayor of New York committed to slashing the city’s food-based emissions by 33% by 2030, having already brought plant-based meals to public hospitals and introducing Plant-Powered Fridays in public schools. To encourage plant-based eating, a grocery chain in Germany committed to pricing its plant-based food products the same as its meat-based alternatives.
Here at home, the Plant Based Cities Movement (PBCM) has championed the adoption of plant-based motions by three Canadian municipalities, including Montreal. PBCM is actively lobbying two more municipalities and is looking for strategic partners and new members to expand its mission across Canada. The Sustainable Food Transition Coalition is also working to bring awareness of the importance of plant-based eating to all levels of government in Canada.
At the end of each year, we at Earthsave Canada reflect on the principle that those who have the information and the means to act must do so, and fast. That’s why we aim to educate the public on the crucial importance of adopting a plant-based diet. Thank you for your continued support of our work. We look forward to more progress towards a healthier, more sustainable and more compassionate world in the coming year!
