Berkeley becomes the first US city to commit to a plant-based future
The US city of Berkeley in California has sent one of the strongest signals yet that the disproportionate impact of animal agriculture on the environment is being recognised, by becoming the first US city to set a plan to one day only spend public money on plant-based foods.
Activists from Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) with the support of other campaign groups including Extinction Rebellion Oakland, Animal Save Movement, East Bay Animal PAC, PETA and The Suitcase Clinic, claimed the victory last week following a 16-month pressure campaign including DxE’s Wayne Hsiung’s entry into the 2020 mayoral race.
The pressure exerted on Berkeley City Council would appear to have been considerable, prompting the city to pass a resolution to shift 50 per cent of its current food expenditure from animal-based to plant-based by 2024. This would include meals served at public events, jails and care homes, with only schools being exempt because they operate independently.
Berkeley has also signalled a long-term goal to shift away from animal products entirely reportedly to address the issue of climate change, but this is subject to a review in June next year.
“A wealth of scientific research underscores the urgency of substantially reducing meat and dairy consumption, which accounts for more than half of all food-related GHG emissions,” the resolution stated. “It is clear that the world cannot meet global greenhouse gas reduction targets without significantly curbing the consumption of animal products. High-meat-eating nations like the United States, which consumes 2.6 times more meat than the global per capita average, must help shoulder this responsibility.”
Berkeley and neighbouring San Francisco have long been associated with social reform and progressive policies. Given California’s political recognition of climate change and other green commitments, including leading the way in recycling initiatives and divestment from fossil fuels, Berkeley was a likely candidate for a plant-based pressure campaign.
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It’s too early to tell whether other cities elsewhere in California and other states follow suit, but the political compass would seem to be pointed in the right direction. In May this year, Hawai became the first US state to declare a climate emergency, while president Joe Biden pledged to cut the country’s carbon emissions by half within the next ten years.
In a statement, Mayor Jesse Arreguín said: “This is a very important step for the city to take as part of our broader climate efforts, as well as building on our long tradition promoting the humane treatment of animals here in the city of Berkeley.”
That long tradition of animal welfare was bolstered recently by the statewide ban on the sale of fur by Gavin Newsom, governor of California. By framing both the environmental and ethical benefits of shifting to vegan-friendly policies, activists based in Berkeley seem to have found the right formula for their political landscape.
How well this narrative translates into political change elsewhere remains to be seen, but in other countries, we are seeing governments move towards landmark policies that favour eco-friendly plant-based systems as well as higher animal welfare such as in the UK with the formal recognition of animal sentience and enhanced welfare legislation, and in Europe where caged farming is set to be banned by 2027.
The DxE-led pressure campaign could well be an example to follow in other cities, focusing on local change rather than lobbying at the state and national levels. According to DxE lead organiser Almira Tanner, writing in the Daily Californian today, the campaign only started in early 2020 starting with letter and postcard writing and phone calls to city council meetings. After being roundly ignored for a year, a protest held outside Arreguín’s home in January led to the mayor stating his support for DxE’s goals and calling for dialogue.
“Today’s resolution is a powerful statement affirming the inner voice of decent people of conscience,” Tanner said, as reported by Vegconimist. “This industry is immensely powerful, but it’s no match for ordinary, passionate people who come together to take collective action. This is only the beginning.”
“We ask that the mayor follow through on all of his commitments by addressing the climate crisis and animal suffering with an ordinance that transitions all city funds away from animal products and toward sustainable, ethical plant-based foods.”
Andrew Gough is Media and Investigations Manager for Surge.
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