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Two vegan school meal projects have received a 2018 Climate Action Award from the United Nations (UN).
The first, Aktion Pflanzen-Power – or Plant-Powered Pupils – was initiated by German health insurance company BKK ProVita and vegan nonprofit ProVeg.
The second, KEEKS – or Climate and Energy Efficient Kitchens in Schools – was also spearheaded by ProVeg.
Both are plant-based-eating initiatives implemented in German schools.
Plant-Powered Pupils
Plant-Powered Pupils is a student-focused project, and aims to empower students by educating them on the benefits of a vegan diet.
According to the UN, it’s currently been implemented in 36 schools across the country, allowing over 23,000 children access to the program.
KEEKS
KEEKS is a program aimed at improving the environmental efficiency of school kitchens and the food they serve.
12,500 kitchen staff have been reached through the training programmes and reports on healthy, sustainable food choices.
‘The solution’
According to the UN, plant-based eating is ‘the solution’ to reaching climate action goals and better health.
The organization’s website reads: “When it comes to food, the highest carbon footprint comes from the meat industry.
“In addition, overconsumption of meat is a public health risk, and processed meat was classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Group 1 carcinogen alongside tobacco and alcohol.”
Expansion
According to the UN, this means that ProVeg’s two school meal programs are helping people, and the planet.
The nonprofit now aims to expand its programs into kindergartens and vocational schools in Germany, and aims to trial them in the United Kingdom.
