Cambridge Endorses the Plant Based Treaty

Edited by The VEGPRENEUR Team

The City Council of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has unanimously voted to formally endorse the Plant Based Treaty through an official municipal order.

The resolution includes specific directives for city departments related to plant-based food purchasing, emissions accounting, school-related events, and public communication.

The order states that the City Council endorses support for the Plant Based Treaty and encourages the Cambridge state and federal delegation to support the treaty and promote policies to reduce food-based emissions while prioritizing plant food purchasing as part of greenhouse gas emissions policies.

The resolution directs the City Manager to work with relevant city departments to incorporate plant-based solutions into the Sustainable Cambridge Initiative. This includes adding future calculations of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions and incorporating plant-based purchasing practices into city-operated events. The order also calls for collaboration with the School Department to incorporate plant-based purchasing practices into school-related events.

In addition, the resolution requires the use of municipal communication channels to promote sustainable and affordable food and drink practices throughout the city. This includes providing information about the climate and health benefits of plant-based food and drinks, and educating residents on ways to achieve a balanced plant-based diet. The order also references highlighting issues related to food poverty and available support resources.

The City Manager is requested to report back in a timely manner on these efforts. The City Clerk is instructed to forward a copy of the resolution to the Cambridge state and federal delegation on behalf of the City Council.

Cambridge is home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The resolution formalizes the city’s endorsement of the Plant Based Treaty while outlining specific areas where plant-based food considerations are to be integrated into city initiatives, purchasing practices, school-related events, emissions calculations, and public communications.