COP31 Expected To Serve Mostly Plant-Based Meals And Have A Plant-Based Café

The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) is set to prioritize plant-based meals, with 60 percent of the catering being vegetarian and a fully plant-based café on site. Local vegan businesses will also participate in the event, which runs from November 9 to November 20, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye. Organizations such as Plant Based Treaty and ProVeg International have expressed their approval of this initiative, highlighting the connection between food systems and climate change. They emphasize that offering climate-friendly meal options is crucial for reducing emissions, as animal-sourced food production accounts for up to 20 percent of global emissions.

In addition to the focus on plant-based foods, all items served at the conference will feature clear labeling of ingredients and nutritional information to help attendees make informed choices. The decision to implement a largely meat-free menu follows critiques from the previous COP30 held in Brazil, where participants highlighted issues such as high prices and the prevalence of beef, a major contributor to environmental degradation. COP31 aims to send a strong message about climate action while addressing food sustainability.