GLASGOW (November 9, 2021) — Paul McCartney and his daughters Mary and Stella McCartney, actors Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, and Ela Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter) are urging the UN’s COP26 to adopt the Plant Based Treaty to avert climate catastrophe.

They join Moby, British actor Peter Egan (Downton Abbey, Unforgotten), actor Jerome Flynn (London’s Burning, Game of Thrones) and leading scientists and interfaith leaders in issuing a strong message to COP26 delegates today, urging them to adopt the Plant Based Treaty as a companion to the Paris Agreement.

The McCartney family — who launched the Meat Free Monday campaign in 2009 — said: “We believe in justice for animals, the environment and people. That’s why we support the Plant Based Treaty and urge individuals and governments to sign it.”

Ela Gandhi said: “I fully endorse the Plant Based Treaty. I believe that the indiscriminate breeding of animals for consumption is harmful both for health as well as for the environment. The animal industry has also contributed, to a large extent, to the deterioration of the fertility of our soil and thus the environment. Large forests have had to make way for cattle farmers all over the world. Gandhiji in his bid to transform his modestly affluent lifestyle in 1904 was driven by three important considerations of which one was that a life worth living is that of the tiller of the soil and the handicrafts person. Living close to nature was part of his teachings. Plant Based Treaty is calling for just that and therefore I support it.”

Peter Egan said: “If we don’t reduce methane emissions we will lose our planet. Animal agriculture is one of the key contributors to methane and other greenhouse gas emissions, so we need to move to plant-based solutions. This is why I support the Plant Based Treaty.”

Renowned British QC Michael Mansfield said: “I think when we look at the damage eating meat is doing to the planet it is not preposterous to think that one day it will become illegal. The damage wrought by meat and dairy needs addressing with urgency; the solutions are outlined in the Plant Based Treaty, which I endorse.”

“Around the world, scientists, government representatives, faith leaders, and now celebrity voices are calling for a halt to the expansion of animal agriculture and deforestation, a shift to a plant-based food system, and reforestation and rewilding of land,” said Anita Krajnc, Plant Based Treaty Global Campaign Coordinator. “Increasingly people are recognizing that meat, dairy and egg consumption are driving carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions, the three major greenhouse gases — now we need COP26 delegates and other leaders to acknowledge it.” 

Fleur Dawes, Communications Director for In Defense of Animals, which is partnered with the Plant Based Treaty, said: “We are thrilled that the McCartneys and Ela Gandhi have joined with the Plant Based Treaty to call on COP26 leaders to tackle the cow in the room. Animal agriculture is a major polluter yet leaders have largely ignored it. It’s time to get tough on ranching to reverse the devastating polluting effect it has on our planet. We urge Secretary-General Guterres to remove dirty animal agriculture from our food systems.”

Last week interfaith leaders including the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland also wrote an open letter also urging delegates to the Glasgow Climate Change conference to endorse veganism as an important approach to averting a climate catastrophe.

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Assets:

McCartney family photo: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/5/folders/1WTIX27WgpT5zQM9yNrf7NwFPhEASXN6- please credit © 2021 MPL Communications Ltd / Photographer: Lily Bertrand-Webb ** This photo must not be cropped or altered in any way. **

Ela Gandhi video: https://youtu.be/1fwCeTiHXFQ

Plant Based Treaty actions for COP26: https://bit.ly/PlantTreatyPressPixVid

Contacts: 

Fleur Dawes, In Defense of Animals, media@idausa.org, 415-879-6879

Anita Krajnc, Plant Based Treaty Global Coordinator, media@plantbasedtreaty.org, 416-825-6080

Organizations:

The Plant Based Treaty initiative is a grassroots campaign designed to put food systems at the forefront of combating the climate crisis. Modelled on the popular Fossil Fuel Treaty, the Plant Based Treaty aims to halt the widespread degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture and to promote a shift to healthier, sustainable, plant-based diets. We are urging scientists, individuals, groups, businesses, and cities to endorse this call to action and put pressure on national governments to negotiate an international Plant Based Treaty. For more information visit https://plantbasedtreaty.org

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in California, and a member of the Plant Based Treaty coalition. In Defense of Animals has over 250,000 supporters and a 38-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org

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