COP30 declaration urges global shift to plant-based diets

A coalition of more than 100 international stakeholders has issued a formal call for governments to adopt plant-rich diets as part of national climate strategies, launching a new declaration today during the UN’s June Climate Meetings in Bonn.

The Belém Declaration on Plant-Rich Diets, named after the Brazilian city set to host the COP30 climate summit this November, aims to elevate food systems reform to the heart of the global climate agenda. It has been signed by a broad alliance of cities, regional authorities and NGOs from around the world, and will be handed over to the COP30 organizers in the coming weeks.

“We are very excited to present this Declaration, which we hope will raise the profile of plant-rich diets at the coming COP30 summit in November,” said Juliette Tronchon, Head of UN Affairs at ProVeg. “Plant-based diets not only play a huge role in mitigating the climate crisis, they are also healthy for people, they support food security and can bring about large-scale employment opportunities.”

The Declaration urges UN member states to create National Action Plans for Plant-Based Foods that promote healthy and sustainable diets. These plans would address the entire food chain – from production to consumption – while contributing to increased food security, improved public health, reduced emissions, and greater biodiversity. Governments are asked to commit to publishing these plans in time for them to be tabled at COP32 in 2027, and to allocate funding for their implementation through existing agrifood promotion budgets.

While encouraging dietary shifts across the board, the Declaration also emphasizes the importance of preserving the plant-rich culinary traditions of the Global South, many of which are under threat from increasingly industrialized and meat-heavy diets. At the same time, it calls for action to curb the overconsumption of animal products in the Global North, where meat intake remains well above sustainable levels.

Campaigners say the scientific case for action is now well established. Animal agriculture is responsible for up to one fifth of total greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes 32% of methane emissions – one of the most potent greenhouse gases driving climate change. In contrast, plant-based foods emit roughly half the greenhouse gases of animal-based foods, use far less land and water, and generate significantly less air and water pollution. They also eliminate the need for routine antibiotics and avoid many of the public health risks associated with intensive livestock farming.

Enric Noguera, European cities campaigner at Plant Based Treaty, said the issue has been ignored for too long. “The food systems, and specifically animal agriculture, is the main driver of ecological devastation and yet, it is not being seriously addressed within the climate discussion. That is why we celebrate this initiative, as it is a significant step towards driving meaningful action in this regard.”

Tronchon added that awareness of the need for food system change is gaining momentum. “The time is ripe for plant-rich diets to climb up the agenda of the UN climate summits,” she said. “There is a huge amount of understanding and agreement now at UN and national level on the benefits of plant-based foods for both the Global South and Global North countries. We urge the COP30 Presidency to seize the opportunity at Belém to make this a priority on the agenda so that societies can set about transforming their food systems for the better.”