Paul McCartney urges COP30 to go vegetarian to avoid climate hypocrisy

Paul McCartney is urging COP30 to go vegetarian prior to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which takes place in Belém from 10 to 21 November.

The Beatles legend has issued a statement, arguing that serving meat at a climate summit is “like handing out cigarettes at a cancer-prevention conference”.

“The animal agriculture industry is a top driver of deforestation and the climate catastrophe that is wreaking havoc on the planet,” he added. “I urge you to lead by example and make the conference all vegetarian.”

McCartney’s words were shared in a post by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), who captioned the post: “Align the menu with the mission! Concerned by the UN’s Climate Change Conference’s hypocritical plans to serve planet-killing meat, Sir Paul McCartney wrote a letter to COP30 organisers.”

McCartney is a longstanding campaigner for vegetarianism and animal rights, and has been a vegetarian since 1975.

He and his late wife Linda McCartney were public advocates for the ethical and environmental benefits of vegetarianism. They even launched their own vegetarian food range, Linda McCartney Foods, in 1991.

McCartney has continued to work with PETA since Linda’s death in 1998. He founded the Meat Free Monday campaign with his daughters Mary and Stella in 2009, encouraging people to eat a plant-based diet once a week.

In 2020, the music icon backed calls to change “outdated” guidance that makes it mandatory for English schools to serve fish, meat and dairy in school meals, arguing that children should be offered a vegan option. This came after a 2019 poll revealed that some 70 per cent of British children wanted more vegan meals on their school menus.

“No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn’t be mandatory to serve it in schools,” he stated at the time. “It’s time to revise the School Food Standards to help the planet, spare animals, and promote healthy eating.”

COP30 takes place from Monday 10 November – Friday 21 November 2025.