Last week the UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a historic resolution recognizing the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a fundamental human right.
Civil society and Indigenous People organizations have been pushing for this for decades, advocating for a sustainable and clean planet, and hence for the long-term survival of the human race. This resolution is revolutionary for the climate movement, since it now makes every step in the direction of business-as-usual a violation of universal human rights. It means that governments and multi-million dollar companies will finally be accountable for their actions.
ProVeg celebrates this landmark vote and hopes that decisionmakers will now take the proper measures to save our planet and to save humanity. The livestock sector contributes at least 14.5% of all GHGs,1 with a more recent estimate of close to 20% of total emissions.2 By making a shift in dietary choices, countries could make a huge difference and keep the 1.5°C target in reach. This historic resolution makes it clear that governments are obligated to protect our right to a healthy and sustainable planet. Food-systems change is central to achieving this goal – be part of the change and take the Diet Change Not Climate Change pledge today!
References
- Gerber, P., H. Steinfeld, B. Henderson, et al. (2013): Tackling climate change through livestock: a global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. FAO, Rome.
- Xu, X., P. Sharma, S. Shu, et al. (2021): Global greenhouse gas emissions from animal-based foods are twice those of plant-based foods. Nature Food 2(9), 724–732. doi:10.1038/s43016-021-00358-x
