Friends of the Earth Applauds New York City for Pledging to Cut Meat Purchases in its Green New Deal

April 22, 2019

New York City to be the first city in the country to cut beef and phase out processed meats in all of its institutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the details of New York City’s Green New Deal. The plan includes a commitment to phase out purchases of processed meats and cut purchases of red meat by 50 percent in its city-run facilities and public schools by 2040. New York City would become the first city in the country to adopt a policy phasing out purchases of processed meat. This commitment to meat reduction builds on the adoption of Meatless Monday by all NYC schools last month.

In response to the announcement, Chloe Waterman, Program Manager for the Climate-Friendly Food Program at Friends of the Earth, issued the following statement:

New York City is strengthening its climate leadership by acknowledging the importance of slashing consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions associated with factory farmed meat. Eliminating processed meat and cutting red meat purchases will pay dividends for the health of future generations and the planet.

We applaud Mayor de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and all of the advocates who made today’s announcement possible. We hope other cities will soon follow suit.

Expert contact: Kari Hamerschlag, 510-978-4420, [email protected]

Communications contact: Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]