Nanouche Umeadi speaking at last night’s (Monday’s) meeting

CLIMATE change campaigners were told that plant-based diets were too expensive for parents trying to feed their children, amid calls for the Town Hall to take a stronger role in convincing people to go vegan.

Last night’s (Monday’s), full council meeting heard a deputation from residents who think Camden could show the way by making all of their own catered events and meetings meat and dairy free.

While environment chief councillor Adam Harrison said he would consider that idea but could not commit to a full change, his colleague, Labour councillor Nanouche Umeadi, warned that people found it too expensive on an everyday basis.

She told the deputation: “I think your point doesn’t take into consideration how expensive it can be to be only be plant based. I come from a position where my daughter having had so many allergies was on a vegan diet for quite a while – and it is expensive. Buying oat milk is more expensive than buying cow’s milk.”

Cllr Umeadi, who represents the Kilburn ward, said: “So I do understand what point you are trying to make but it’s in the middle of a cost of living crisis. It is cheaper to eat chicken and chips. That’s £1.99 or £2.50, compared to a healthy veggie meal that costs more to buy fruit and veg.”

Catherine Jacobs, who spoke on behalf of residents concerned about how they see the meat and dairy industry adding to the climate emergency, told the all member meeting that Camden should be acting on the recommendations of its Climate Assembly and the ambitions of its Climate Action Plan.

She said: “On the council’s own website, residents are told that the number one thing they can do to cut CO2 emissions is to ‘eat less meat and dairy produce.”

Climate campaigners argue that fishing and farming are among the primary causes of the loss of global biodiversity as land is handed over to agriculture.

“Our ask is that Camden Council follow through on the recommendations provided in its own reports by committing to serve only plant-based fare at catered meetings and events for which it is responsible,” said Ms Jacobs.

“The council has the opportunity to lead the way for its residents to take up plant-based eating habits themselves, which is a necessary step in addressing the climate emergency. Not only will this reduce the council’s and borough-wide emissions, it will also reduce freshwater usage, prevent land-use change such as deforestation, and reduce destruction of biodiversity.”

She said instead of answering questions from councillors at last night’s meeting, she would email them responses.

Cllr Harrison said that the council was working on the issue.

“Our school climate charter consists of 10 commitments, one of which specifically addresses food and educating students about the benefits of eating less meat and offering plant based solutions,” he said.

“We have 23 Camden schools who are signatories to the climate charter, and through the catering contract, we are looking at ways to further extend plant based options for schools going beyond the current meat free day offering. As a council last year, we ran a public information campaign on the climate crisis which shared information about the carbon and environmental impact of what we eat. As part of all the choices we make in our daily lives and the food part of that campaign provided information about the impact of the production of meat and dairy.”

He told Ms Jacobs: “The request for a full switch to plant only options is something that will require a bit further further consideration by us than we’ve been able to give in the last few days, but it’s something I’d be happy to look into in greater detail and get back to you and your fellow deputees once we’ve had time to complete that piece of work.”