Green Monday is a growing global movement that urges consumers to consider the environmental and public health impacts of their food choices. It began in Hong Kong and has grown to include universities and organizations across Asia, Europe, and the United States. WashU is proud to be one of the first American universities to launch the program. By taking the Green Monday pledge, students, staff, and faculty commit to eating vegetarian on Monday or at least one day per week. Why should you Green Monday? By participating, you are helping to mitigate climate change, reduce fresh water consumption, and combat deforestation for livestock grazing.
Since our launch in January of 2015, 1,463 students, staff, and faculty have joined the program. Last semester, we partnered with a variety of student groups on programming and outreach efforts, from the Burning Kumquat to the Women’s Panhellenic Association. We also celebrated the expansion of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program in partnership with Local Farmer CSA (for more information or to sign-up, click here).
With your participation, we can have an even greater impact, but our goal is to reach everyone in the campus community. According to the EPA, the agriculture sector and related land use is responsible for 24% of our greenhouse gas emissions. Consider the impact: If we all eat vegetarian just one additional day per week, WashU will collectively reduce carbon emissions by as much as 5,000 metric tons annually — equivalent to taking 1,053 cars off the road!
Will you help us Green Monday? Each week, you can choose from delicious vegetarian options across campus dining locations. If you choose to take our online pledge, you will also receive a brief weekly message on a food-related topic with facts and tips to help you get involved on campus and beyond. This semester, we will focus on supporting local food systems and raising awareness around food justice in the greater St. Louis community. We will also host Food Week from October 24-28. It will include a packed schedule of food and sustainability-related programming on campus.
Are you interested to take a more active role with Green Monday messaging and event planning? Would you like to schedule a presentation for your student group or department? Contact Jen Thomas, Sustainability Coordinator, at jlthomas@wustl.edu.