FORUM: Environment Commission 2

QUESTION OF: Promoting vegetarianism as a means of reducing carbon footprint

SUBMITTED BY: United States of America

CO-SUBMITTERS: African Union, Benin, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Colombia, ESCAP, Eswatini, Kenya, Nicaragua, Moldova, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tajikistan,

ENVIRONMENT COMMISSION 2,

Keeping in mind that plant-based protein and diets have lower carbon emissions than livestock which has a percentage of 19 percent of total emissions,

Concerned about the nutritional outcomes of badly monitored vegetarian diets,

Recognizing the health advantages such as decreases in risks of type 2 diabetes and cancer,

Reminding research that showed vegetarians have half of the carbon footprint as meat eaters,

Further keeping in mind that plant-based protein and diets have lower carbon emissions than livestock which has a percentage of 19 percent of total emissions,

Deeply concerned about the nutritional outcomes of badly monitored vegetarian diets,

Further recognizing the health advantages such as decreases in risks of type 2 diabetes and cancer,

Further reminding research showed that vegetarians have half of the carbon footprint as meat eaters,

1. Encourages Member States to collaborate with private sectors such as restaurants to create and add vegetarian options to their menus by following the dietary guidelines which will be made with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as stated in clause 4;  

2. Calls upon the integration of dietary guidelines that are sustainability-focused into educational curricula from elementary school until universities with the help of education ministries and nutrition policies nationally, highlighting plant-based diets’ environmental advantages, importance, and attention needed to regard their health as well by:

1. adding vegetarian options to school menus regarding health standards
2. creating environments for students to communicate with dietitians
3. having presentations about the carbon footprint and diet’s impact on it to raise further awareness;

3.  Urges especially developed nations to:

1. provide needs to initiate and continue research about the impacts of diet on carbon footprint, access to these diets, and affordability by improving plant-based food production
2. support farmers and researchers working on transitioning from livestock to plant-based with tax incentives
3. initiate communication mechanisms between the public, farmers, and experts to create a healthy environment cooperation;

4. Further Urges the collaboration with the UNEP and private entities, non-governmental organizations, and governments to develop sustainable dietary guidelines for dietary practices by organizing a conference on the issue of these guidelines which will include supplement support, individualized plans regarding certain needs, and set the basic standards of this issue to create a healthy global guideline;

5. Urges the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to impose a global ban on meat advertisement in any feasible format and rebrand it as an unethical product in the following ways:

1. completely manipulate any flow of digital and non-digital meat related advertisements, making sure none of it gets through to the general public
2. host UN-backed informative campaigns in the form of digital and nondigital content, demonstrating the contaminating nature of meat production and exposing the meat industry to animal cruelty, incentivizing vegetarianism
3. enact graphic packaging laws where all meat packages must contain:

1. warnings on environmental impact
2. graphic depictions of the cruelties of livestock husbandry and slaughter
3. an easily visible impactful statistic;

6. Recommends plant-based food options at upcoming and long-term future United Nations-affiliated events to set an example of commitment to sustainable dietary shifts according to the guidelines created and advertise it using social media by creating trends, videos, blogs and posts about the food served, the recipes, expert information, and the diet followed;

7. Further encourages governments to have cross-sectoral meetings and contribute to the production, distribution, and consumption of fruits, vegetables, and plant-based proteins to keep communication stable and  to make them more accessible to the public in ways such as but not limited to:

1. providing financial support to local farmers and producers through:

1. grants and loans for farmers transitioning to cultivating fruit and vegetable crops
2. subsidies for purchasing sustainable farming equipment
3. training programs on efficient and eco-friendly agricultural practices

2. improving distribution networks by:

1. creating infrastructure like storage facilities and transport to reduce post-harvest waste
2. encouraging partnerships with private companies to ensure widespread availability of plant-based food

3. monitoring the effectiveness of the grants by:

1. collecting data on production and consumption rates of plant-based foods
2. regularly reviewing the impact of the grants on public health and the environment;

8. Calls for the promotion of vegetarianism as a means to reduce carbon footprints by:

1. raising public awareness through educational campaigns and media outreach by:

1. highlighting the environmental benefits of plant-based diets
2. providing resources on sustainable food choices

2. supporting sustainable agricultural practices by incentivizing plant-based food production by:

1. offering financial support for farmers transitioning to plant-based crop cultivation
2. promoting local and organic food sources to reduce transportation emissions

3. increasing availability of plant-based options in public institutions and commercial establishments by:

1. integrating vegetarian meals into public catering services
2. encouraging restaurants and businesses to offer plant-based menu options;

9. Further recommends the establishment of international research collaborations to develop innovative plant-based food technologies and improve crop yields by:

1. studying the nutritional benefits of underutilized plant-based crops to promote their inclusion in global diets
2. developing improved soil management techniques to increase the productivity of plant-based crops while preserving environmental health
3. researching plant-based food packaging solutions to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable alternatives in the food industry;

10. Invites member states to collaborate with their related ministries to organize conferences under the supervision of the United Nations to increase awareness in schools about the general topic which will cover such as but not limited to:

1. environmental effects of food choices
2. benefits of vegetarianism
3. climate change
4. greenhouse gas emissions
5. water usage decreases
6. land usage decreases
7. biodiversity preservation
8. sustainable practices such as crop rotation.