The upcoming United Nations climate conference, COP31, is set to significantly expand its plant-based food offerings, with organizers aiming for 60% of catering to be meat-free. The conference will also feature two fully plant-based cafés and host two vegan businesses from Antalya, Türkiye, at the venue's food court.
The announcement highlights the growing visibility of food systems within international climate discussions. While climate negotiations have traditionally focused on energy, emissions, and finance, food production has increasingly entered the conversation due to its environmental impact. According to reporting on COP31, the agrifood sector is responsible for approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Organizers have also committed to clearer food labeling, including ingredient and nutritional information, allowing delegates to make more informed choices. The presence of fully plant-based cafés and dedicated vegan businesses represents one of the most notable plant-based initiatives announced for this year's conference.
The increased focus on food at COP31 follows a broader evolution in how climate conferences approach the subject. At COP26 in Glasgow, organizers introduced climate footprint information alongside menu items. COP27 in Egypt hosted the conference's first pavilions dedicated to food system transformation, reflecting a growing recognition of food's role in climate discussions.
Food received even greater attention at COP28 in Dubai, where approximately two-thirds of the menu was meat-free. The shift followed months of campaigning by the Youth and Children Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (YOUNGO) and more than 140 youth and civil society organizations advocating for more sustainable catering at the summit.
The following year, COP29 in Baku drew criticism from activists over the limited availability of plant-based options and reports that some dishes containing meat or dairy products had been incorrectly labelled as vegetarian or vegan. Reports from the conference indicated that only two food outlets were entirely meat-free.
At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, a survey conducted by ProVeg International found that 51.2% of meals and snacks offered at the conference were meat-free, exceeding the organizers' target. However, the survey also highlighted ongoing concerns regarding food labeling, pricing, and the availability of plant-based alternatives.
The announcement comes as a recent United Nations-backed report found that most countries are not currently on track to meet internationally agreed food systems goals by 2030, with greenhouse gas emissions reductions among the largest gaps identified.
Meanwhile, advocacy organizations continue to push for stronger recognition of food systems within climate policy discussions. The Plant Based Treaty is currently promoting a petition calling on world leaders attending COP31 to make food system transformation a climate priority and place plant-based solutions at the center of climate action. According to the organization, food systems and animal agriculture remain insufficiently addressed in global climate negotiations despite their environmental impact.
As delegates prepare to gather in Antalya, COP31's food program reflects the increasingly prominent role of food systems in climate discussions. Whether through meat-free catering, dedicated plant-based venues, or improved food transparency, the conference is set to place food more visibly on the climate agenda than ever before.