Cities trim beef, add veggies for the climate [Video]

Creamy kale Caesar salad and Ghanaian red red stew are among the new dishes clients were invited to try at a Toronto shelter this fall.

It’s a step toward meeting the city’s Coolfood Pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions from its food purchases by 25 per cent by 2030 relative to 2019 levels.

The United Nations estimates about a third of human-caused greenhouse gases is linked to food. (The rest is mostly from burning fossil fuels.) 

So as part of their plans to fight climate change, cities around the world and across Canada are committing to provide less carbon-intensive meats and more plant-based foods through services such as shelters, day cares and community centres, as well as at events such as festivals.

Canadian cities and towns that have made a commitment to promote plant-based foods include Montreal, Rainbow Lake, Alta., and several Ontario communities, such as Kingston, Brampton and Toronto.

Why cities are looking at greener food policies

James Nowlan, executive director of …