Melbourne’s Darebin City Council has made history by becoming the first Australian council—and among the first local jurisdictions worldwide—to endorse the Plant Based Treaty, marking a significant milestone for plant-based advocacy in Australia.
The endorsement passed with an overwhelming 8-1 vote, demonstrating strong council support for addressing climate change through food system transformation.
Mayor’s Vision for Change
Mayor Susanne Newton, who championed the motion, expressed optimism about the precedent Darebin is setting:
“We are one council leading the way at this point, but my hope is that this is a bit like our climate emergency declaration: once one council does it, more and more can consider it until it becomes a social movement that eventually simply becomes our new normal.”
How It Happened
The endorsement came about through grassroots advocacy when a local resident sent an email to Mayor Newton asking the council to consider endorsing the Plant Based Treaty. This simple act of community engagement demonstrates the power of residents to influence local government decisions on climate action.
Darebin’s Climate Leadership History
This endorsement builds on Darebin’s established record of environmental leadership. In 2016, Darebin City Council was the first council in Australia—and the first local jurisdiction in the world—to declare a climate emergency, setting a precedent that many other councils have since followed.
The Plant Based Treaty
The Plant Based Treaty is a grassroots campaign designed to put food systems at the forefront of combating the climate crisis. It calls for:
- Ending subsidies for animal agriculture
- Redirecting resources toward plant-based food systems
- Promoting plant-based solutions to address climate change
- Supporting a just transition for affected communities
Significance for Australian Councils
Darebin’s endorsement proves that Australian councils are willing to adopt progressive food policies when presented with clear environmental cases. The strong 8-1 vote margin suggests broad council support for climate action through food system change.
The endorsement also demonstrates that councils can take meaningful climate action on food issues, even when higher levels of government may be slower to act.
Building Momentum
Mayor Newton’s hope that this endorsement will “become our new normal” reflects the potential for Darebin’s leadership to inspire other Australian councils. With 537 councils nationwide, the precedent set by Darebin creates an opportunity for systematic change across Australian local government.
The success at Darebin shows that strategic community advocacy, combined with committed political leadership, can achieve significant policy wins on plant-based food systems at the local level.
Next Steps
As Mayor Newton predicted, the endorsement creates momentum for other councils to consider similar actions. The Plant Based Treaty now has over 150,000 individual endorsers globally, along with growing institutional support.
For Australian councils looking to demonstrate climate leadership, Darebin’s endorsement provides both a successful model and proof that such policies can gain strong political support when properly presented.