The Scots actor called offering meat on the summit’s menu ‘irresponsible’ and likened it to ‘serving beer at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting’.
Actor and activist Alan Cumming has demanded plant-based foods be served at the COP26 – an environment-focused political event to be held in Glasgow this November.
He compared serving meat at the conference to handing out beer at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the letter he penned to cabinet minister and COP26 president Alok Sharma.
He wrote the letter as part of a campaign by PETA to point out that the meat and dairy industries are a leading cause of the climate crisis the Glasgow-based event is seeking to overcome.
Animal agriculture impact on climate change
In the letter, the actor pointed out that raising animals for food requires massive amounts of land, crops, energy, and water and causes immense animal suffering.
He cited UN studies that pin animal agriculture as a leading cause of deforestation, pollution, ocean dead zones, habitat loss, species extinction, and zoonotic disease spread.
“Given that animal agriculture contributes to many of the serious environmental problems the planet is facing, I hope you’ll agree that serving meat while trying to fight climate change is like serving beer at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting,” Cumming wrote.
“It’s irresponsible and unhelpful.”
Vegan food benefits
According to PETA, vegan foods have a comparatively lesser carbon footprint than their animal-based equivalents even when imported plant proteins are compared to flesh from grass-fed, locally farmed animals.
The charity adds that a widespread transition to a plant-based diet could cut down global greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by the year 2050.
Concluding his letter, the actor pointed out that offering a fully vegan menu would be all the more exciting since Glasgow has been previously cited as one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world.
“If the goal of the COP26 summit is to protect the planet—as well as promote compassionate, responsible behaviour—animal-derived foods have no place on the menu,” he said.
Campaign
Cumming is not alone in pushing for a meat-free menu at COP26. Over 55000 supporters have joined PETA’s calls alongside the actor to urge the summit to step up for the climate and have a fully vegan menu.
You can join them here.
Share this story: Alan Cumming says meat on COP26 menu is like ‘ serving beer at an Alcoholics Anonymous’.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
35% of Brits are now buying less or no meat at all, new survey shows
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 29th June 2022
Rising food costs are motivating Brits to adjust their diets. While vegan food has always been branded more expensive than its meat counterpart, a new survey has busted this myth by showing that Brits are changing their eating habits with more individuals ditching meat in favor of vegan food. The survey The Vegan Society hosted …
Continue reading “35% of Brits are now buying less or no meat at all, new survey shows”
81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th June 2022
“As the US military continues to seek ways to best support the overall health and diverse needs of its loyal service members, we’re calling on lawmakers to require all branches of the military to provide plant-based MRE options.” The majority of US military members want vegan Meals, Ready to Eat (MRE), according to a new …
Continue reading “81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …