Campaigner guide: Local Authorities, food and climate

Food and farming accounts for over a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and industrial farming is the leading cause of biodiversity loss globally and wildlife decline in the UK and overseas. Despite this, very few councils have targets to reduce emissions from food. 

School food is incredibly important because this is the largest area of procurement for most councils, and an opportunity to help give children a better diet. The public sector serves around 1 billion meals a year to school children alone, so even small changes will have a big impact.

For health and environmental reasons, our diets should include more vegetables, pulses and fruit, more seasonal and locally grown food, less but better meat, dairy and ultra-processed food like sugary drinks.