e-5028 (Food and drink)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• Animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions;
• Canadian agriculture sector emissions have grown significantly, mostly from farmed animals, exceeding all other sectors except oil and gas;
• Canadian Climate Institute found animal production to be the most emission intensive sector.
• Canada’s Environment Commissioner found Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada failed to develop a meaningful climate strategy, having achieved less than 2% of its climate target;
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommends plant-based diets for addressing climate change stating without a drastic change in our consumption patterns, global climate targets will not be met;
• Chatham House describes plant-based diets as one of three levers of change to reduce land pressures that accelerate biodiversity loss and extinction;
• Navius Research found if Canadians reduced animal food consumption by 50% by 2030 it would reduce emissions by 16% or 13.5 Mt, enough for Canada to meet its climate targets; costing 11% less to comply compared to other available options;
• Several universities, hospitals and cities have plant-focused menus to reduce emissions; and
• Canada is a global leader in the growing plant-based proteins sector, presenting a significant opportunity for clean growth and transitioning agriculture toward a net zero economy.