Animal agriculture is one of the biggest drivers of the climate crisis, and the world is beginning to take much-needed action. You joined us to speak out for animals and the environment, and Los Angeles listened!

On October 25, 2022, Los Angeles became the largest city in the U.S. to support the Plant Based Treaty following a unanimous vote by the City Council and the subsequent concurrence of Mayor Eric Garcetti.

By adopting a resolution in support of the Plant Based Treaty initiative, Los Angeles has taken a historic step that will save the lives of millions of farmed animals, encourage plant-based lifestyles, and help mitigate the climate crisis. Mayor Eric Garcetti finalized the measure which establishes the “City's position in its 2021- 2022 Federal Legislative Program regarding the United States to enter into a Plant Based Treaty and make a plant-based approach to food and food purchasing a centerpiece of its greenhouse gas emissions policy.”

Introduced by Councilmembers Paul Koretz and Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles’ resolution supports the Plant Based Treaty initiative, which is a companion to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)/Paris Agreement targeting food systems to combat the climate crisis.

Councilmembers Paul Koretz (top right) and Marqueece Harris-Dawson (bottom right) introduced the resolution which will save the lives of farmed animals.

Through our work on the Treaty in concert with our partners, we aim to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture, to promote a shift to more healthy, sustainable plant-based diets, and to actively reverse the damage done to planetary functions, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. 

The Plant Based Treaty includes a legally binding commitment to the three R's: Relinquish, Redirect and Restore. 

Relinquish: Stop the Problem From Increasing

Prevent land use change, including deforestation, for animal agriculture, through:

• No building of new animal farms or slaughterhouses.
• No expansion or intensification of existing farms.
• No conversion of plant-based agriculture to animal agriculture.
• No clearing of forests or other ecosystems for animal grazing, animal rearing, or animal farming of any kind.
• Banning all live exports.

Redirect: Eliminate the Driving Forces Behind the Problem

Promote plant-based foods and actively transition away from animal-based food systems to plant-based systems by:

• Declaring a climate emergency.
• Making food security a priority for all nations.
• Prioritizing a switch to plant-based foods in Climate Action Plans.
• Updating government food and dietary guidelines to promote wholefood, plant-based food.
• Mandating honest labeling of food products, including cancer warning labels on all processed meats which have been declared carcinogenic by the World Health Organization.

Restore: Actively Healing the Problem While Building Resilience and Mitigating Climate Change

Restore key ecosystems and reforest the Earth through:

• Reforestation projects and restoring key degraded ecosystems.
• Establishing no-fishing zones and replanting critical carbon absorbers in oceans.
• Focusing a shift toward nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“This landmark resolution marks a vital cultural shift as Americans prioritize both combating climate change and improving their health,” Councilmember Koretz said in an interview about the resolution he co-introduced in support of the Plant Based Treaty.

Councilmember Paul Koretz introduces a resolution in support of the Plant Based Treaty.

Twenty cities across the world have endorsed the Plant Based Treaty, and about 10 days before Los Angeles solidified its support, Didim, Turkey signed onto the initiative. 

Last year, over 8,000 In Defense of Animals supporters took action and urged their local officials to consider endorsing the treaty in their own regions, taking a stand for animals and the environment alike. In Los Angeles alone, over 500 residents wrote to their council members to encourage the support of the Treaty, and the Council listened.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, as well as many other celebrities, famously endorsed the adoption of the Plant Based Treaty worldwide.

Please join us as we wholeheartedly celebrate this victory for animals, the environment, and the city of Los Angeles.