Can Plant-Based Diets Save San Francisco’s Climate Goals?

As SF develops its Climate Action Plan, the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare is asking for the city to include plans to encourage people to adopt a more plant-based diet. What does that look like for the average San Franciscan?

San Francisco is undergoing a redesign of our Climate Action Plan, a critical document that helps our city address the rapidly changing environment. Part of the revision process is asking departments to weigh in, and this week the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare drafted feedback. According to them, there’s a blind spot. The “revision does not address a critical pillar of emission reduction: animal agriculture.”

The link between animal agriculture and climate change is well documented. Meat is (subjectively) super tasty, but it absolutely comes at a cost to the environment. Ancient practices that kept farming sustainable for thousands of years have been tossed out the proverbial window as industrialization transformed humanity. When meat became a lucrative commodity, the twin forces of capitalistic greed and human hubris took the reins. 

Now we’re trying to stem the flow of blood and figure out how to get humanity out of this mess. There are global-level changes needed; things like the “carbon footprint” are less meaningful attempts at propaganda when the very industry trying to blame individuals is responsible for the vast majority of pollution. But that doesn’t mean we can renege our individual or city responsibility to the planet.

That’s why the Commission is recommending that San Francisco’s plan “adds a sector to the plan that promotes plant-based diets.” In 2021, the plan outlined clear “Support for promoting and subsidizing plant-based diets, especially by providing incentives for plant-based restaurant meals and committing to plant-based foods in City buildings.” 

So what does the current plan say? It’s definitely not as forthright with recommendations around plant-based diets. In fact, it only mentions “climate-friendly diets.” The 2025 version is still under revision and there are workshops and other ways to get involved. But time is running out. 

Hopefully the plan results in some of the Commission’s recommendations, like “plant-forward meals in school lunches, hospital cafeteria offerings, and city-run events.” When there are more options, it not only benefits vegetarian and vegan folks but everyone (and the planet).

The Commission’s request is modest. New York City has an entire Food-Forward plan that details actions they’re taking to help with climate change. Cities like Belfast, Amsterdam, and Los Angeles have endorsed the Plant-Based Treaty, which includes ideas like banning all live exports, introducing a methane tax, and prioritizing food security. San Francisco is unlikely to live up to that, given that food security is on the chopping block in the Billionaire’s Budget that’s currently under review at City Hall. 

 That’s not to say San Francisco isn’t doing well. But where we once led the way in ambitious climate change action, we are now looking at a budget from the Mayor that is cutting climate action funding in half. 

The good news is that the Commission already provided some feedback last week, to which we’re told the SF Environment Department “responded favorably.” According to advocate Emily Guzzardi, their  recommendations included:

• Include specific mention of animal agriculture (factory farming) as a major climate threat.
• Introduce citywide educational campaigns promoting the health and climate benefits plant-based eating, and encourage reduction of meat and dairy.
• Follow global leaders like Amsterdam, which promotes citizens moving toward 60% plant-based diets, and offers plant-based food in public institutions and events–really putting food front and center in climate discussion where it belongs.
• Clarify “climate friendly foods” to be foods derived from plants; specifically suggest “reducing and/or eliminating meat and dairy consumption.” (Page 15, Circular Economy, Strategy 2.)
• Offer incentives for restaurants or small businesses to expand plant-based offerings.
• Make plant-based the default in city institutions (like NYC hospitals have done with great success). People may still opt in to traditional menu items, but the default becomes plant-based. (Also, not advertising it as the vegan dish, but just make it the new delicious norm that’s the foremost choice.)
• Endorse the Plant-Based Treaty as a city (and/or as individual commissioners), joining 41 other cities and towns across the world who are promoting the connection between food and climate in their policy.

In the meantime, how can the average San Franciscan follow the Commission’s recommendations? We suggest the following:

• If you’re in charge of ordering the food for a party, include plant-based options. 
• Take the time to plan out your meals for the week. Maybe you could aim for a veg at every meal, or even try Meatless Mondays.
• Focus on increasing variety and substituting, rather than restricting.
• Read up on factory farming and make changes in your grocery shopping and restaurant trips in ways that make sense for your budget.
• If you’re really passionate, follow the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare meetings. There’s one tonight on June 12, 2025!

Participant Mikaila Garfinkel says, “I hope the city does the right thing and acknowledges the role of the animal agriculture industry in our climate crisis and the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.” Let’s see what happens next!

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