The global food system is currently responsible for 30% of all of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions on the planet. Greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 emissions are contributing to the greater problem our environment is facing: global warming. Carbon emissions from imported food impacts our environment significantly – by inducing severe weather changes, rising sea levels and flooding, and more directly, people.
Consumers in Toronto are buying many imported products that generate hundreds of kilograms of CO2 emissions across the globe through transportation. A local box of strawberries in season in Ontario saves around 3,263g from buying a non-local strawberry from California. Eating seasonal and local foods can reduce pollution, preserve the environment, and slow global warming. By eating local and seasonal foods in Toronto, we can reduce our footprints by up to 10%.
So, what we are proposing is to redirect consumers in Toronto so that we can all reduce our carbon footprints by buying and consuming more local and seasonal produce items. As it is, consumers are not able to clearly see which products are local and seasonal in grocery stores. This petition urges the Municipal Government of Toronto to create a program for all grocery stores in the City to combat food transportation emissions and climate change. This idea aims to:
o Use clear signs for local and seasonal products in grocery stores, providing information about the distance travelled and carbon emissions you save from buying a local product as opposed to a non-local product
o Requires supermarkets to label as well non-local products that are not in season, providing information on the distance the product has travelled and how much carbon emissions it has generated through transportation and importation
This idea could start with a simple petition, if we can present this to the Municipal Government, we could reduce our carbon footprints by 10% by buying local produce that is in season. Our goal is to obtain at least 100,000 signatures – with your support, we could make a difference and combat climate change together.
Please sign this petition so we can make an important change in Toronto.
Thank you.
