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e-1058 (Protection of the environment)

Petition to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Whereas:
  • The climatechange.gc.ca website lists the "Top 10 Things You Can Do To Help" but fails to acknowledge food choice as a critical contributor to each Canadian's environmental footprint;
  • Eliminating most or all animal products from one's diet cannot be ignored by Canadians eager to optimize their personal carbon and water footprint;
  • Agriculture is identified among the "Causes of Climate Change" on the website. As it is a significant part of the climate change crisis it should be part of Canada's solution;
  • The climatechange.gc.ca website recognizes that reducing short-term forcers like methane "will quite quickly lead to reduced atmospheric levels of such substances"; and
  • The Dieticians of Canada have declared a fully plant-based diet not only safe but among the most healthful; therefore, animal agriculture is an emissions sector that, unlike most sectors featuring fossil fuel pollution, can be eliminated entirely from a Canadian's footprint;
We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to add to the climatechange.gc.ca webpage "Top 10 Things You Can Do To Help":
1. Choose truly sustainable, plant-based food.
Your carbon and water footprint is closely tied to the food you eat. When you consume animal products you are responsible for not only the resources for their husbandry, slaughter, packaging and transport, but the growing and transport of the food that they consumed. Grain-fed cows are the most resource intensive while grass-fed ones create the most greenhouse gases. On a global scale, deforestation for rangeland and feed crops contribute to the crisis, while reforestation draws carbon out of the atmosphere.
Government response tabled on January 29, 2018 (Sessional Paper No. 8545-421-3-39)
Open for signature
June 27, 2017, at 1:55 p.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
October 25, 2017, at 1:55 p.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith (Beaches—East York)
December 4, 2017 (Petition No. 421-01936)
Government response tabled
January 29, 2018
Photo - Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
Beaches—East York
Liberal Caucus
Ontario