
NYC Pledges a 33% Cut in Food-Related Emissions by 2030 in Climate Change Battle
- foodfightadmin
- March 31, 2023
- Climate Change, State
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New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy has publicly committed to a 33 percent reduction in food-based emissions by 2030. This comes is in response to the city’s first integrated greenhouse gas inventory, which revealed that food is the third largest contributor to overall emissions in New York City, following transportation and buildings.
The inventory, developed by the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), takes into account emissions generated from the production of goods and services consumed by New Yorkers, regardless of whether the production occurs within the city or not.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed the city’s determination to combat climate change and acknowledged the importance of addressing the significant role of food in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. He emphasized the need for honesty and stated, “We cannot leave the third leading cause of climate change unacknowledged.”
While New York City has been monitoring citywide emissions since 2005, this is the first time household consumption emissions have been included. The inventory highlights that 20 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions come from household food consumption. The study further reveals that New Yorkers can make a substantial impact on reducing emissions by adopting a diet consisting of more low-carbon, plant-based foods.
Mayor Adams pointed out that one-fifth of the city’s carbon dioxide emissions come from food, with meat and dairy products being the major contributors. Recognizing this, New York City’s schools and hospitals have already taken steps to address food-based emissions by offering plant-based meals as the default option. NYC Health + Hospitals, the integrated healthcare system operating public hospitals and clinics, is on track to serve 850,000 plant-based meals this year, reducing food-based carbon emissions by 36 percent. This initiative not only contributes to emissions reduction but also addresses public health concerns over diet-related diseases.
Plant-Powered Fridays, introduced in public schools last year, aims to inspire the younger generation to advocate for just and sustainable food systems. By leveraging its purchasing power, New York City intends to prioritize nutritional value in the food it procures, alongside caloric consumption.
Mayor Adams has also launched the Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge, urging leaders in the private, institutional, and nonprofit sectors to reduce their food-based emissions by 25 percent by 2030.
These commitments by New York City underscore its global leadership in climate initiatives and reinforce the understanding that food cannot be overlooked in discussions about carbon emissions. Mayor Adams emphasized the wide-ranging impact of food, not only on physical and mental health but also on the planet, stating that “it impacts our way of life,” urging New Yorkers and the world to recognize its significance.