Current Press Releases

GROUNDBREAKING FOOD AND CLIMATE CHANGE RESOLUTION INTRODUCED IN NEW YORK CITY

“FoodprintNYC” to Address Critical Role City’s Food Choices Have on Climate Change 

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. (July 01, 2009) — In an effort to swiftly address the impact of the City’s food choices and production systems on climate change, Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, members of the NYC Foodprint Alliance and one hundred activists held a rally in support of a groundbreaking council resolution that proposes reducing pollution caused by processed food shipped into the city.

“If we can have a fast food restaurant on almost every corner, then we can certainly have a garden. New York City's low-income communities suffer alarmingly high rates of chronic, diet-related diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. A local and sustainable food plan would provide greater access to the healthy, fresh, and locally grown produce and help our environment at the same time,” said de Blasio.”

“Bill de Blasio’s effort to promote access to local, fresh food is an important piece of the revolution we’re seeing in the way government thinks about food,” said Borough President Scott Stringer. “Until recently, food policy was only about improving health and nutrition. Now we understand that where our food comes from, how it’s grown, and the way it gets to our table plays a major role in climate change too.”

The resolution, introduced in the City Council by de Blasio, is the first ever food and climate change resolution and calls for a citywide initiative to create greater access to local, fresh, healthy food especially in low-income communities as well as city-run institutions. Increasing availability and use of local, healthy food decreases significant pollution caused by the packing, preparing and shipping of food.

The resolution proposes “FoodprintNYC” a citywide initiative designed to lessen the impact the City’s food choices and production systems have on climate change through the launch of a public awareness campaign, greater access to local, fresh, healthy food, and the mobilization of the financial and technical support needed to sustain these efforts, especially in low-income communities as well as city-run institutions. It is meant to build on PlaNYC, which aims to reduce global warming and encourage environmental awareness, yet does not address food and farming. The resolution also builds upon the environmentally friendly policies and programs recommended in the Manhattan Borough President’s 2009 report “Food in the Public Interest.” 

According to the Agricultural Role on Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Report, conducted by the Pew Center on Climate Control, it is estimated that globally one-third of all GHG emissions comes from agriculture and land use changes, and that approximately 12% of the total GHG emissions per U.S. household result from growing, packing, preparing and shipping food nationwide. Meanwhile, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization calculated that production of plant-based foods, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts and seeds, contributes significantly less to global warming than production of animal-based foods, and that, globally, livestock operations emit 18% of total GHGs, significantly more than the 13.1% emitted by the world's entire transportation sector. 

Currently, New York City has 87 farmers markets and 82 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs offering a wide array of locally grown, organic foods. In addition to providing local communities with greater access to healthier, locally grown food, a local and sustainable food approach within New York City would also expand green jobs for New Yorkers throughout the City's parks, gardens, urban farms, and local food processing, storage and distribution facilities. 

The NYC Foodprint Alliance is a collaborative network of food justice, environmental, anti-hunger, human rights, and animal protection organizations working for a more healthy, just and sustainable food system for New York City. The Alliance includes over 20 local nonprofit groups, including Just Food, Sierra Club New York City Group, Small Planet Institute, New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, Farm Sanctuary, Kind Green Planet, World Hunger Year, Slow Food USA, Oxfam ActionCorps NYC, Eating Liberally, and Cool Foods Campaign.