Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into force in 1994, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC has been meeting annually to review progress in dealing with climate change.
“Although more and more evidence is coming to light showing how the growth of the global meat industry is having alarming environmental consequences, the impact of the livestock sector on global warming does not as yet seem to have been acknowledged by the Conference of the Parties (COP)”, writes Paul. “I therefore call upon you to bring this issue to the attention of the conference and encourage the adoption of policy and individual actions, such as a weekly meat-free day.”
Paul also asked Ms Figueres and Mr Al-Attiyah to acknowledge the connection between meat production and climate change by introducing additional food criteria in the sustainability guidelines issued for the conference.
The Meat Free Monday campaign has the backing of a large number of high profile environmental experts, including former US Vice President Al Gore and Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Dr Rajendra Pachauri. There are one day a week meat-free campaigns in 22 different countries, a growing number of businesses, restaurants and food service providers are getting involved, and cities including Ghent, Bremen, San Francisco and Los Angeles have meat-free day initiatives.