Launched in late September 2020, Green Monday encourages a meatless and fish-free Monday every week. French researchers highlight its potential to meaningfully reduce carbon footprints—and anyone can start today.
Starting Monday, September 28, 2020, the second edition of Green Monday kicked off as a global call to action. The initiative, as stated on its official platform, urges replacing meat and fish every Monday in meals. The inaugural campaign in January 2019 drew around 500 French influencers, who rallied citizens to join. Officials deemed it a success, with strong uptake in university cafeterias. An initial evaluation showed most participants eager to continue.
Green Monday sparks a shift toward greener eating habits, aligning with the Citizens' Climate Convention's goal to cut meat and dairy consumption by 20% by 2030. While policies often target transport, this movement spotlights food's ecological impact.
This year's theme: legumes like beans, peas, and lentils. Their consumption in France has plummeted over the past century, yet they're packed with protein, fiber, and complex carbs. Experts recommend 75g per person daily—75 times current averages.
Researchers modeled a 15% reduction in meat and fish, substituting with legumes to keep calorie intake steady. Using ANSES data, this means daily averages of 40g meat (excluding poultry, down from 47g) and 22g poultry (from 26g)—effectively tripling legume intake.
INRAE's Nicolas Treich and Grenoble Alpes University's Laurent Bègue-Shankland, in Science & Vie, confirm legumes' footprint is 50 times lower than beef and 5 times lower than pork per calorie. The Green Monday approach could save ~100kg CO2 equivalent per person annually.
