Government COPs Out on Net Zero Strategy

Here at Cambridge Sustainable Food we been striving to champion a ‘Climate Diet’. On Tuesday it was revealed that the Government backed out of publishing their ‘nudge unit’ report highlighting the need for “effective diet-related policy”. This leaves small local food groups battling the odds of achieving Net Zero targets without national commitment or policy to back them up. 

“CSF staff and volunteers have been out on the streets of Cambridge pushing for a transformation in how we eat” explains Sam Dyer, CEO Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC. “We’re encouraging exactly the local, plant-based diet this report promotes. The need for a huge cultural shift is so urgent that we need large scale Government intervention right now. This is a COP out before COP26 and the UK government  must set the bar higher for all our sakes.”

Food is the first priority addressed in the Behavioural Insights Unit publication entitled “Net Zero: principles for successful behaviour change initiatives.” The report acknowledges that “public understanding of the climate impacts of food is poor” and endorses action for “shifting dietary habits towards more environmental options (e.g. plant-based, local) and enabling sustainable agriculture”, which it describes as “fundamental to achieving Net Zero.” 

The BBC reported that the recommendations were deleted by the Department for Business soon after being published yesterday.

Dyer goes on to say “We need the kind of dynamism and commitment that COVID brought out to work together locally, nationally and globally. Instead of hushing this up the government should publish and share these world-leading insights to help the UK and other nations bite back against the climate crisis.”

We have been promoting our #EatForOurFuture campaign in the build up to COP26. Dyer will be part of a delegation in Glasgow at the 26th UN climate conference, to highlight the importance of local food systems in tackling climate breakdown - a critical issue addressed by Eat For Our Future - Climate Diet. 

Cambridge residents sharing why they Eat for our Future at our Climate Diet stall

Think Global, Eat Local through a CLIMATE DIET

The Climate Diet Campaign aims to inform businesses and the local community about how to eat in a climate-friendly way, and inspire them to take the Climate Diet pledge. This might involve appetising ideas for using those leftovers and trying easy ways to enjoy more plant-based recipes.

The campaign builds on the City’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis through food by signing The Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration ahead of the COP26 Climate Change Summit. Our campaign has been set up to help the people of Cambridge to be part of the solution too - through their daily diet.