The Los Angeles City Council recently voted unanimously to adopt its resolution in support of the global Plant Based Treaty initiative.
“This landmark resolution marks a vital cultural shift as Americans prioritize both combating climate change and improving their health,” said Councilmember Paul Koretz, who introduced the resolution with Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson on September 6. “As over 2,200 municipalities did with climate emergency declarations, I invite other cities to join us and endorse the Plant Based Treaty.”
Through its three core principles—Relinquish, Redirect and Restore—the treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems by freezing expansion of animal agriculture, promoting a shift to healthy, sustainable, plant-based diets, and the rewilding of natural habitats.
The decision has been made just ahead of the annual C40 World Mayors Summit, which convenes October 19-21 in Buenos Aires. Los Angeles is the second C40 City to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, following Buenos Aires’ decision to endorse on August 9, 2022.
In addition to their support for the Los Angeles resolution, Councilmembers Koretz and Nithya Raman have personally endorsed the global Plant Based Treaty.
“LA is historically known to lead the nation in environmental trends,” said Jane Velez-Mitchell, UnChainedTV founder and veteran journalist. “What happens in LA spreads to the rest of the world.”
Ellen Dent, President of Animal Alliance Network, praised the Council, saying, “By passing the Plant Based Treaty Resolution, L.A. City councilmembers are upholding their promise of making the shift towards preventative climate change policy so directly needed for their constituents and beyond.”
The Plant Based Treaty is critically needed as a companion to the Paris Agreement to hold governments and the animal agriculture industry accountable for greenhouse gas emissions from food production.
California is home to the country’s largest dairy industry, with 1,400 dairies and around 1.7 million cows. According to the California Air Resources Board, which has a methane research program, animal farming is responsible for more than half of California’s methane emissions.