Meat off the menu as Yorkshire council goes plant-based to tackle climate change

Calderdale Council voted to adopt the new policy to remove meat and dairy from future council meetings and catered events at the full council meeting on Wednesday night (24 July).

It follows a proposal last month which recommended the move after the council’s cabinet unanimously backed the move, which was formally proposed by deputy leader Coun Scott Patient.

The proposal will also see the council promote plant-based diets as part of its planned Food Strategy.

Speaking to councillors at Wednesday’s meeting, Liz Readle, 68, Calderdale resident and retired University teacher said: “The climate emergency affects us all. Increasing the consumption of plant based foods is vital in order to meet net zero targets and reduce biodiversity loss, water pollution and antibiotic resistance.

“To change our food system we need to support food growers and help animal farmers to transition to sustainable plant based farming.”

Before the meeting, farmers’ union NFU wrote to the council to request a meeting to discuss the issue.

NFU Vice President and Calderdale farmer Rachel Hallos wrote to the council, commenting: “It’s great that Calderdale Council have a keen interest in protecting our environment and our farmers share that ambition, but removing certain products from our diets misses the point of a sustainable food system.

“What Yorkshire people choose to eat is up to them, but here in the county they can and do choose regional produce from our farms, and as a result they enjoy some of the most sustainable meat and dairy products in the world.”