Berkeley recognizes need to reduce its carbon footprint
Berkeley could cut the use of meat served by the city by 50% by 2024 — the latest effort by officials to address climate change.
The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to study the proposal. But the move was mostly symbolic because city officials said they don’t know where the city serves meat and how much is served.
The resolution, authored by Councilmember Sophie Hahn and Mayor Jesse Arreguín, directs city staff to study whether the city can achieve a 50% decrease. The resolution also noted the council’s commitment to examining eliminating meat products completely.
The drive to cut meat products comes partly from how raising animals contributes to greenhouse gas emission. Cows, for example, are a big contributor through burps and manure that produce methane, a greenhouse gas. Also, forests are often cut down to create grazing land for cattle, which
releases carbon dioxide stored in trees.
“There is a lot of research and consideration that has to happen,” Hahn told The Chronicle about the move. “But the legislation is an acknowledgment of the huge impact that meat has, in particular red meat, on the environment and it’s a way for the city to lead in reducing the amount of meat that is consumed and therefore, reducing the environmental impact of the food that we eat.”
Hahn said the resolution also directs the city manager to report back to council how much meat
the city serves and where.
The resolution is the latest environmental legislation passed by the city. In 2019, Berkeley banned the installation of natural gas lines in new homes. The city also banned singleuse disposables, requiring restaurants to use compostable togo foodware that same year.
But the symbolic move points to the difficulties for cities trying to tackle climate change. Many Bay Area cities have seen success cutting emissions, but at times making a major impact is difficult while large sectors that drive climate change are regulated by state and federal government. In January, Berkeley considered banning the sale of gaspowered vehicles in the city by 2027, but critics pointed out that people could buy cars in neighboring cities.
Hahn touted her history pushing for sustainable food programs, including her work to amend city rules in 2012 to allow the sale and trade of homegrown produce.
Hahn — who does not adhere to a plantbased diet — said Tuesday’s resolution still requires more work. City staff will report back to council next January on what regulations need to be considered to make the move.
“It is a way for us to take a look at what we are buying and what we are serving and just consider how we can reduce our carbon footprint,” Hahn said.