Directions:
Issuing a Meatless Monday proclamation sends a powerful message to residents, local organizations, and the general public that your city or community is committed to promoting Meatless Monday to achieve climate and public health goals.
Use the sample proclamation below by customizing it and adding your organization, city, or community name and relevant facts/figures of your community. The template below has been successfully used by many communities.. Once customized, this proclamation can be sent to your local city council or other governing body.
Meatless Monday sample proclamation
Whereas, [Relevant percentage]% of [city/community name] residents do not eat their recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables and have a [city’s percentage]% rate of diet-related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some types of cancer; and
[If you do not have this information, feel free to add other relevant health information here.]
Whereas, the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future has long recognized that high meat consumption can have an adverse effect on human health and the environment. The Center states that “high-meat diets, especially those low in vegetables and fruits, are associated with adverse health outcomes such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. In addition, meat production accounts for nearly 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a major driver of climate change. Livestock agriculture uses a disproportionate amount of the world’s fresh water, arable land, and fossil fuel.” Accordingly, they recommend Meatless Monday as a first step to encourage individuals to eat more plant-based foods and fewer animal products; and
Whereas, the environmental impacts of abstaining from meat are significant. Producing a single hamburger uses the same amount of fossil fuel necessary to drive a small car 7 miles and enough water to fill 425 bathtubs. The EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems final report concluded that “food is the single strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability on Earth,” and that a global shift toward a mostly plant-based diet is necessary to achieve those sustainability goals; and
Whereas, a weekly reminder to restart healthy habits encourages success, and we are more likely to maintain behaviors begun on Monday throughout the week; and
Whereas, [city/community name]’s Meatless Monday initiative offers free resources including [fill in relevant resources]; and
Whereas, [fill in information about local restaurants, businesses, schools, etc. that are participating]; and
Whereas, [city/community name] is also proud to join the many other communities, organizations, and groups which participate in Meatless Monday around the world; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the members of the [city/community council or governing body], do hereby proclaim
- Mondays shall be Meatless Monday in [city/community name]
- We hereby urge all citizens to take special note of this observance by refraining from eating animal products on that day of the week
- Actions you are taking in your community; e.g., restaurants participating, events, etc.] shall offer healthy and tasty meat-free options that will improve our residents’ health, as well as the health of our environment
- These [actions, events] shall help our community to understand the importance of reducing meat consumption, while they enjoy new culinary experiences.
