As a concerned resident of Somerset County, raising a young family here in the heart of the SouthWest, I feel it is imperitive that our Council act as soon and effectively as possible to meet their climate action goals head on. They have acknowledged the problem, so it is now time for them to take action for all of us living here and lead by example with the numerous other councils already making important changes for their future, the rest of Britain, and the world! 

“If we shift away from eating meat and dairy and move towards a plant-based diet then the sun’s energy goes directly into growing our food, and because that’s so much more efficient, we could still produce enough to feed us but do so using a quarter of the land. We could free up an area the size of the United States, China, EU and Australia combined; space that could be given back to nature.’ - Sir David Attenborough

Somerset County Council declared a climate emergency back in 2020 and has stated that they are working to be carbon neutral by 2030. 

One of the biggest changes we can make to reduce our carbon footprint, and our impact on the natural world, is switching to a more plant-based diet. 

This is backed up by the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which recommends a 20% reduction in meat and dairy by 2030 and a 35% reduction for meat by 2050. The CCC also advises societal level shifts through new approaches in public sector settings such as schools and hospitals.

The council needs to lead the way on this urgent issue by going plant-based at its meetings and supporting local vegetable farmers, and plant-based businesses who are encouraging change. 

This will promote the switch to plant-based diets, something which is beneficial for health (and by extension reduces strain on NHS), the natural world, and the climate crisis.

We are calling the council to:
1. Ensure food and drink provided at all internal meetings and events is 100% plant-based and prioritise seasonal British produce to support our farmers, thereby promoting plant-based eating to their residents and leading by example.

2. Implement a Plant-Based Action Plan to promote and prioritise plant-based eating wherever the council has influence, for example in leisure centres, public cafes, and schools.
Promote and encourage plant-based eating to residents and removing meat and dairy advertising where the council has an influence. 
Doing this will help the council reach its climate and nature targets and encourage a wider shift in Somerset with regards to the amount of meat and dairy eaten. 

3. Call on national government to support the transition towards a plant-based food system.
The benefits are huge - one study shows the NHS could save £6.7 billion per year if people ate more plant based meals.

This isn't just about one council's catering choices; it's about setting a precedent for other councils across the UK - showing them that they too can make significant strides towards combating climate change through their everyday decisions.

Let us urge Somerset Council to take this crucial step towards sustainability and health. Please sign this petition urging them to transition all internal event catering services towards 100% plant-based options now!