World Leaders Urged to Commit to Transitioning Away From Meat & Dairy at COP29

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, a coalition of global non-profit organizations and the Food & Climate Action Group are urging world leaders to transition away from meat and dairy consumption. They are calling for a commitment to a "just transition away from meat and dairy overconsumption" in order to reduce emissions, land, and water use. High-income countries are being asked to promote low-carbon foods like vegetables to align with climate targets and improve public health, while upper-middle-income countries are encouraged to redirect subsidies from high-emission animal products towards plant-based alternatives.

The coalition is recommending pricing and taxation policies targeted at meat processors to incentivize a shift towards plant-based products. Revenues raised through taxation could then be used to compensate populations most affected by climate change. The declaration signed by four nation states and over 100 NGOs at COP29 stresses the need for reforming agricultural practices, subsidies, and food taxes to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement and address the disproportionate harm faced by Indigenous communities and vulnerable groups in the Global South due to climate impacts.