Sheena Chhabra - Plant Based Treaty

We are joined by Sheena Chhabra, campaigner for the Plant Based Treaty—a groundbreaking global initiative tackling the climate and ecological crises by putting food systems at the heart of the solution.

The Plant Based Treaty is calling for a shift toward a just, plant-based food system that respects planetary boundaries, protects biodiversity, reforests the Earth, and creates a more resilient and equitable future. Recently, Sheena and the Plant Based Treaty team celebrated a major milestone: helping Darebin City Council become the first local government in Australia to endorse the Treaty, joining the ranks of progressive cities like Los Angeles and Amsterdam.

With a vision to see a global Plant Based Treaty adopted alongside the Paris Agreement, the organisation is driving policy change, strengthening networks, and supporting communities to transition to healthier, climate-friendly food systems.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Sheena’s journey into plant-based advocacy and environmental campaigning
• How the Plant Based Treaty came to be and what it aims to achieve
• The critical connection between food systems, climate change, and biodiversity loss
• Why reducing reliance on animal agriculture is key to cutting methane emissions
• How and why Australia is one of the world’s worst hotspots for land clearing and species extinction
• The vulnerabilities in our current food systems and how to build resilience with a plant-based shift
• The links between animal agriculture, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic disease risks
• An introduction to The Safe and Trust report: The Plant Based Treaty’s Vegan Donut Economics Approach to the Food System
• The Treaty’s five core programs and what they’re doing to drive real change
• How individuals and institutions can support the movement
• What’s ahead for the Plant Based Treaty in 2025 and beyond

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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