Sofia Fernandes Pontes and Kieran Emery

STUDENTS have voted to make their university campus 100 per cent plant-based.

Meat could be sliding off the menu at London Metropolitan University students after the push to increase the amount of plant-based food by 60 per cent in the next academic year, and then by 10 per cent every year until no animal products are used at all.”

Sofia Fernandes Pontes, 26, studies Psychology at the university and has been leading the campaign since January 2022.

“We started off our campaign with a banner drop over the library that said ‘meat and dairy=climate crisis’,” she said. “Part of our campaign was to have stalls where students could come up to us and voice their concerns. A lot of students, at least on the Holloway campus, were really concerned and talking about the climate crisis, and saying students do need to do more, and it’s a shame that it’s up to the younger generations to make these changes.”

She added: “The university has a lot of pride about being sustainable, but it’s up to students to hold them accountable. Going plant-based means we significantly cut down our carbon emissions … In terms of animal welfare as well, personally, I don’t like the idea of the school having a policy saying that one of the things for their meat is that the animal should not be going under distress and pain, but that’s what the whole animal agricultural industry is.”

The vote was passed by the students’ union, who must now take their case to the university administration.

“We have told the university that because of the vote for it, these are now our demands for the university,” Ms Fernades Pontes said.

“If they refuse to listen to the students, then we will start our own peaceful protest on campus, where we will take over the canteen.”

She is a member of Animal Rebellion and has plenty of eco-protest experience.

She said: “Sometimes it can feel quite frustrating that the younger generation has to do all of this. We’re not the generation in power just yet. For changes to occur, older generations have to do something.”

A spokesperson from London Met University said: “Feedback from our students has played a crucial role in shaping London Met’s activities and we value their passion and perspectives on every aspect of our operations. The vote took place on May 4, so we look forward to hearing more detail from our students’ union about this and their other priorities in due course.”