Is Phoenix Mayor’s Ambitious Climate Agenda a Menace to Meat, Dairy, and Private Vehicles?

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has been implementing radical climate policies that have garnered attention. As a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, she aims to implement significant changes in Phoenix, which may include banning meat, dairy, and private vehicles by 2030.

The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group is a global network of mayors committed to addressing the climate crisis. They advocate for sustainable food policies that promote plant-based diets while sidelining carnivorous diets, as part of their mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in 1,000 cities worldwide.

Mayor Gallego, who has been a member of C40 since 2020, serves as Vice Chair of the C40 Steering Committee. This position enables her to provide oversight and ensure the group’s mission aligns with the needs of C40 cities. However, her alignment with C40 has raised concerns among Phoenix citizens.

Despite public opposition to meat-banning policies expressed at a recent Phoenix City Council meeting, Mayor Gallego and the Council passed the 2025 Phoenix Food Action Plan in 2020. This plan includes the establishment of an AgriFood Tech Incubator in 2023 to promote sustainable food systems.

The city of Phoenix already has multiple policies for sustainable food systems outlined in the 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory report conducted by Arizona State University (ASU). Mayor Gallego has collaborated with ASU on various environmental and sustainable projects.

However, critics argue that while meat is not explicitly being banned, Mayor Gallego’s policies could lead to higher meat prices and significant reductions in meat consumption. They also point out that the mayor’s claim of reducing energy costs is misleading, as energy costs are determined by Corporation Commissions and utility providers, not mayors.

This article appeared in TheDailyBeat and has been published here with permission.