Maybe they’re finally seeing the light about the heat caused by raising meat. This year’s annual United Nations Climate Change Conference will reportedly serve “mostly vegan food” following backlash at previous years’ events.

The annual conference sees world leaders come together to discuss how to tackle the climate crisis. In the past, it has sparked major backlash for sidelining – and often completely ignoring – animal agriculture’s impact. This is despite the fact that livestock farming is a major contributor to global warming and ecological destruction.

Last year, veg organizations slammed the conference for serving meat and dairy to attendees. The event featured a $100 beef medallion dish, a $50 seafood platter, and a $40 salmon meal on its menus. On top of being a product of the hugely unsustainable fishing or aquaculture industries, the salmon was reportedly flown in from thousands of miles away.  

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, is tasked with helping the world reduce global warming and mitigate the impacts of climate change.  The news that COP will for the first time offer mostly plant-based food has therefore been celebrated by veg organizations.

“We are delighted that the COP Presidency is potentially going to prioritize plant-based food at the world’s most significant climate summit this year” said Lana Weidgenant, youth activist and campaigns and policy officer at ProVeg.  She went on to say,  “Nations will hopefully leave COP28 with a greater understanding of the need to promote a transition to food systems that are less dependent on animal agriculture in their home countries for the benefit of both current and future generations,”