Amsterdam has become the first European capital to call for a global ‘Plant-Based Treaty’.

The city council yesterday joined 25 other municipal governments around the world in signing the treaty which aims to address impact of our systems on the climate, human health and animals.

The city is launching a new food strategy which aims to ensure proper access to healthy, fair, sustainable, and affordable food and drinks throughout the city.

The city aims to shift the ‘protein ratio’ in its resident’s diet from 40% plant-based to 60% by 2030.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning Plant Based Treaty campaigner Lisette Weustenenk said the campaign aims to highlight the impact our food systems have on the climate.

“So far, when we've been talking about climate change in politics, it's mostly been about fossil fuels and sustainable energy and our food system actually has a huge impact on our climate and the sustainability of our planet,” she said.

“So, we what we want is politicians to put food system change on the table and talk about it and discuss it and make actual change.”

Amsterdam’s new plan involves four main targets.

• All publicly funded institutions must offer employees, visitors, and patients ‘full plant-based meal options’ from this year.
• All restaurants and catering facilities at public institutions must commit to a ‘Vegan Friday’ from this year.
• All restaurants and catering must also commit to hitting Amsterdam’s target protein ratio by 2030.
• The city will establish an annual plant-based conference involving care institutions, schools, universities, and other public institutions.

Ms Weustenenk said the plan will “hopefully” mean less meat on the table in the city’s restaurants – and admitted the plan will initially be unpopular with farmers.

“Actually, we had some farmer’s protests last night as well in the Netherlands,” she said.

“So yes, of course there is conflicting interests here with farmers who want to protest for their livelihoods – and we don't want to take anything away from farmers.

“It's just that we would love to see them have a new line of products that they farm.

“So instead of animals, we would love to see them farm something else and I think our government can play a huge role in helping farmers switch to a more sustainable model so that they can farm for a long time into the future.

“It's usually a family job, right? Something that you want to pass along to your children and if farmers want to do that in the future, there needs to be some change.”

She said the crux of the plan is ensuring that there are plant-based options “everywhere you go” in the city.

“That doesn't mean that you don't have a choice, but that means that there will just be an extra option for you that's better for the climate, the animal and health,” she said.

The Plant Based treaty campaign already has the backing of prominent vegans like musician Moby and Ms Weustenenk said she hopes Amsterdam’s move will make it easier for other European cities to follow suit.

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