Global cities plan to mandate diets, limit clothing purchases to ‘fight climate change’

A conglomerate of nearly 100 mayors are formulating plans to “fight climate change” by mandating diets, limiting clothing purchases, reducing private car ownership, and other measures.

C40 is a network of cities that have pledged to transform their cities to meet the World Health Organization’s Air Quality Guidelines. Cities include Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, DC, Dubai, Mumbai, Barcelona, Paris, London, Tel Aviv, Beijing, Cape Town, Tokyo, Sydney, and others.

“Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using an inclusive, science-based and collaborative approach to cut their fair share of emissions in half by 2030, help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C, and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities,” says the website.

To meet those guidelines, C40 has adopted a slew of measures such as prescribing a meal plan for residents called the Planetary Health Diet. The diet is limited to 2,500 calories a day and is mostly plant based, with 50% fruits and vegetables and 50% other foods such as whole grains, plant-based protein, legumes, nuts, and small amounts of animal-sourced protein.

“Cities committing to this accelerator will work with residents to achieve a ‘Planetary Health Diet’ for all by 2030, with balanced and nutritious food, reflective of the culture, geography, and demography of their residents,” reads the C40 website.

New York City has already made plant-based meals the default option for patients in the Health + Hospitals network, and Mayor Eric Adams’ office says it is on track to distribute 850,000 plant-based meals to patients in 2023. The city also became subject to new food standards last year which place a cap on the amount of meat that can be served by municipal agencies and a minimum quota for plant-based foods. The rules also state that processed meats must be phased out by 2025.

Other C40 measures include reducing the consumption of clothing and textiles by 39% by 2030, an 18% reduction in electronics and household appliances by 2030, a 26% reduction in aviation by 2030, and a 28% reduction in private transport by 2030. Higher numbers are set for 2050.

C40 mayors are also implementing Zero Emissions Areas, or “clean air zones,” where there are no carbon emissions. In Zero Emissions Areas private car transport is discouraged and residents are pushed to walk, cycle, or ride public transportation. 

This is done by reallocating road space and parking spaces to buses, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as “charging drivers to enter a clean air zone” and generally “making private vehicle use more expensive or inconvenient." All vehicles in these areas must be electric.

Paris is one such city that has already begun reallocating roads and parking spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Transport Strategy has set a target of 80% of all trips in the city to be via walking, cycling or public transit by 2041.

In 2018 the World Economic Forum praised cities who decided to ban cars from certain areas, hoping it would be a rallying call “for cities around the country to go car-free."

In addition to Zero Emissions Areas, C40 cities have pledged to create 15-minute cities, where public services, recreation, schools and work are located within a 15-minute walk, obviating the need to drive.

“A 15-minute city reimagines streets and public space to prioritise people not driving, building more vibrant neighbourhoods where walking and cycling are the main ways of getting around. It enables and encourages people to choose not to drive. This means reclaiming car-dominated space for more productive, social and community-building uses, upgrading walking and cycling infrastructure to better serve the daily, local trips of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, and expanding green space in every neighbourhood,” says the C40 website.

Cities like Oxford have already announced plans to create 15-minute neighborhoods, sparking protests against “climate ghettos”. Residents who drive outside their own neighborhoods for “non-essential needs” will be fined.

C40 cities are also committed to constructing “Zero Carbon Buildings”, which means that public and private buildings will be forced to conform to a set of environmental requirements. These include a ban on gas lines and the exclusive use of electric appliances, an initiative which has begun to gather momentum in the United States.

The C40 network is in part funded by George Soros' Open Society Foundations, Ikea, and L'Oreal.