While Islington Council has committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2030, it is failing to act on one of the most impactful solutions identified by scientific research: transitioning to plant-based food. On average, greenhouse gas emissions from plant-based foods are 10 to 50 times smaller than those from animal products[1]. Plant-based alternatives also use less water and land, as well as presenting potential health benefits such as lower levels of saturated fat and higher fibre[2].
The climate crisis is not a distant or conceptual issue—it is already affecting lives here and now. In recent years, extreme heatwaves have led to avoidable deaths among the elderly in London, while flash floods and worsening air quality have become regular threats.
This is important. It affects health, safety, food security, and the future of the borough’s children. Climate action must be ambitious, evidence-based, and rooted in the everyday realities facing local people.
Councils including Oxfordshire County, Cambridge City, Exeter, Faversham and Hythe have committed to serving fully plant-based food at catered meetings and events. In London, Lewisham has done the same.
Islington should commit to serving only plant-based options at its catered meetings and events. This simple shift will reduce the council’s emissions and set an example of prioritizing healthier, nutritionally complete, sustainable meals—rich in fruits, vegetables, pulses, and wholegrains. By leading this change, the council can inspire broader plant-based dietary shifts, a proven strategy in tackling the climate crisis.
Once 2000 signatures are reached, this petition will be debated at a full council meeting.
[1] Interactive: What is the climate impact of eating meat and dairy? | Carbon Brief
Please sign the petition if you live, work, or study in the Borough of Islington, and make sure to include your address to confirm your connection to the area.
