The University of Antwerp's (UAntwerpen) canteens will offer 80% vegetarian dishes by 2030, notes an update to the university's 'Climate Action Plan', originally presented in 2019.
"There are still many work streams to become more sustainable," says the university, which is aiming for climate neutrality by 2030 and zero carbon by 2050. In one year, the university emits about as much as a car travelling 160 million kilometres. To achieve climate neutrality, the university's emissions need to fall by 4.6% a year.
"So there is room for improvement on the menus of university restaurants menus," explains Mathias Verstraeten, the university's coordinator for climate issues. "By 2030, 80% of the meals on offer will have to be vegan or vegetarian. Red meat and processed meat, in particular, will disappear from the menu."
The meat – in particular poultry – and fish that will still be served will in future have to come from sustainable livestock farms. "Incidentally, the figures show that meat substitutes are already to students' taste," Verstaeten points out. "Around half the meals that students order are already vegan or vegetarian."
That said, what consumes the most energy on campus is infrastructure. UAntwerpen says that it will therefore continue to focus on energy-saving buildings in the coming years. The emphasis is also on mobility and modal shift. Finally, the university wants to adapt to climate change, in particular by planting trees.
