As world leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26 today over 100 NGOs and prominent figures have joined forces to call on national governments to address the impact of food and animal agriculture to avert a climate catastrophe.

The joint statement, which features in full-page ads in both The Times and Scotland's The National newspapers today, reads:

COP26 is bringing together world leaders to tackle the dangerous and unprecedented climate emergency. We urge governments to seize COP Nature Day on 6th November to properly address the impact of food and animal agriculture. People are relying on their leadership – we need a commitment to immediate global action towards creating sustainable, healthy food systems for the benefit of animals, people and the planet.

Our planet is in crisis. The issue of food and agriculture impact needs to form a central part of the discussion and world leaders need to be ready to bring about serious change.

If the way we eat does not change substantially, as a matter of urgency, we will fail to meet climate targets and the science says the repercussions will be catastrophic. Global meat and dairy consumption must be greatly reduced if we are to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A move to higher-welfare, nature-friendly agriculture is also essential if we are to reduce biodiversity loss. The world is watching.

It is supported by numerous animal welfare and environmental charities including Greenpeace UK, OneKind, the RSPCA, Friends of the Earth, Brighter Green, the RSPB and World Animal Protection.

“World leaders are gathering at COP26 to try and solve the escalating climate emergency, yet they are ignoring the ‘cow’ in the room,” says Sean Gifford, our Global Director of Campaigns, “Despite overwhelming evidence that meat consumption is a major driver of the climate crisis, national governments are failing to acknowledge the central role that food and agriculture plays in destroying our planet.”

In addition to the joint statement, we will be at COP26 speaking to delegates from around the world about the effects of animal agriculture on climate change and launching a new report, on Friday 5^th November, which sets out the scientific case for a dramatic global reduction in meat consumption, before it’s too late. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to see what we are up to throughout the conference.

Sign our petition calling on governments to reduce global meat and dairy consumption.