QC signs international ‘Good Food’ and ‘Clean Air’ cities declarations

Quezon City (QC) was the lone Philippine city that committed itself to cutting meat consumption and delivering clean air to its citizens by signing international climate action group C40 Cities’ “Good Food Cities” and “Clean Air Cities” declarations.

QC Mayor Joy Belmonte signed the declarations last week during the 2019 C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mayors of 14 cities around the world signed the Good Food Cities Declaration while the Clean Air Cities Declaration had 35 signatories.

The signatories of the Good Food Cities Declaration were Barcelona, Copenhagen, Guadalajara, Lima, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Seoul, Stockholm, Quezon City, Tokyo, and Toronto.

The declaration is a commitment to achieving a “Planetary Health Diet” by 2030, which means ensuring all meals are healthy, sustainable, and sourced from organic agriculture.

Good Food Cities are also expected to “promote whole foods and discourage consumption of foods that are ultra-processed and/or high in fat, sugar, and salt.”

Under the agreement, each city must create and share its own action plan and regularly report their progress.

In a statement, C40 Cities explained that 13 percent of cities’ total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was associated with food consumption, with consumption of animal-sourced food representing roughly 75 percent of those food emissions.

“Research shows that, without substantial changes, greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector will increase by 38% by 2050,” the group warned.

Clean Air Cities Declaration

Meanwhile, the 35 signatories of the Clean Air Cities Declaration acknowledged that clean air was a human right.

“Air pollution is creating a global public health crisis-- one that is rooted in social injustice. Typically, it is the poorest and most vulnerable communities that are most affected by dirty, polluted air,” C40 Cities said.

Signatories of this declaration vowed to reduce air pollution and meet the World Health Organization’s Air Quality Guidelines.

The cities that signed the pledge were Amman, Austin, Bengaluru, Barcelona, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Delhi, Dubai, Durban, Guadalajara, Heidelberg, Houston, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Lima, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Medellin, Mexico City, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Portland, Quezon City, Quito, Rotterdam, Seoul, Stockholm, Sydney, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tokyo, Warsaw, and Washington D.C. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News