ProVeg is at the UN biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, which ends on Friday
Beef is still being served at the UN’s biennial biodiversity summit, despite cattle ranching being one of the major causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss.
Options advertised at the two week COP16 event, which ends on Friday (1 November), include a variety of beef dishes, such as “grilled Angus beef” and “roast beef with barbeque sauce”.
Globally, 41% of tropical deforestation is driven by beef production1, leading to huge losses of plants, animals, fungi and other microorganisms.
“It is disappointing to see that beef is still on the menu at this event,” Lana Weidgenant, Senior UN Policy Manager at food awareness organisation, ProVeg International, said.
“The impact that cattle ranching has on biodiversity is well known. Reducing beef production and consumption is one of the best ways to prevent further loss of biodiversity and to help nature flourish again. We hope that COP17, scheduled for 2026, will ensure that beef is off the menu altogether, and that other animal products are significantly reduced,” she said.
Weidgenant added: “We are pleased that the organisers of COP16 in Colombia have made plant-based food available as well. There is a good range of plant-based options for delegates to try, giving them a chance to experience how healthy and tasty climate-friendly, plant-based food really is.”
Beef was served to delegates at the summit this week despite Colombian government ministers highlighting the role that animal agriculture plays in deforestation and biodiversity loss during panel discussions led by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
Along with deforestation, animal farming is a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane. Plant-based foods emit half the greenhouse gas emissions as animal-based foods and major events – such as the Paris Olympics this year and last year’s UN climate summit – have purposefully served mainly plant-based foods to reduce the carbon footprint of their events.
“The UN climate summit in Dubai last year really set the example by ensuring that two thirds of the food served was plant-based,” Weidgenant said.
“We have seen the catering menu for this year’s climate summit, in Azerbaijan, and plant-based food is also at the forefront again. So we expect that a fully plant-based, global event is not too far away,” she added.
ENDS
Footnotes
- Pendrill, F., U. M. Persson, J. Godar, et al. (2019): Agricultural and forestry trade drives large share of tropical deforestation emissions. Global Environmental Change 56 1–10. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.03.002
Notes to Editors
Photos of menu boards showing the beef options at the summit are available on request.
For this and other media inquiries, email Peter Rixon at [email protected].
For scientific data about the benefits of plant-based eating, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
