There are many changes that are required to make our university more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, one of them being the food that is distributed in campus food outlets, primarily in our catered halls. Being part of the staff in one of the catered halls I have experienced first-hand the way catered halls are run; not only have I witnessed massive amounts of food waste, utilisation of single-use plastics but, to my greatest concern, I have seen the diet that the students are being offered. The menu in catered halls consist of at least 85 percent of meat and dairy options. Furthermore, the number of portions of meat and dairy foods is disproportionately larger to those of any plant-based alternatives. This is consistent across different weeks and meals.
 
This is massively problematic as the impact meat and dairy are having on our planet is catastrophic. The meat and dairy industry is one of the leading producers of greenhouse gases, as well as the cause of mass extinctions and 90% of Amazon deforestation. Livestock is also responsible for 65% of all human-related emissions of nitrous oxide which is an extremely potent greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Ironically, livestock provides us with less than one fifth of calories but takes up more than four fifths of our farmland.
 
Research has shown that avoiding meat and dairy is the “single biggest way” to reduce our impact on Earth. By replacing all animal products with plant-based products (and allowing the land freed up to regrow) we would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by a staggering 28%. Other universities have already paved the way forward with their adjustments; Oxford University banning red meat in 2020 and Goldsmiths, University of London, banning the sale of beef in campus food outlets in 2019.

THE DEMANDS: 
1.     Take all meat off the menu in catered halls and at university-catered events.
2.     Largely transition to a just and sustainable plant-based food system.
3.     Promote an education of students and staff on the impact that meat and dairy diet has on our environment and how it fuels the climate emergency.

Implementing these changes will not only help to tackle the climate emergency, but also help young people establish healthier eating patterns and save the university money.

This is not a radical proposal with radical demands, this is a necessity to our survival. Be a part of the fight for system change!!!