This is why I took the Diet Change Not Climate Change pledge – and why you should too!

Juliette Tronchon is 25 years old, was born in France, and currently lives in Berlin. When we chatted to her over Zoom recently, she spoke about why she took the Diet Change Not Climate Change pledge.

Hi Juliette, thank you for taking the time to tell us why you took the Diet Change Not Climate Change pledge. We were wondering –  when did you first realise that you wanted to follow a more plant-based diet?

I was 19 years old and I had just moved to Germany for my studies. In my family circle, I have always been very aware of food issues. My parents have organic shops and we have always done everything we can to avoid food waste and consume food that is as seasonal and locally produced as possible. But when I arrived in Münster, I met a lot of vegetarian and vegan people and there were so many meat free options available everywhere that I became really aware of the issues. Eating plant-based makes a huge difference! 

Did this realisation move you directly into taking action?

It took me some time to go fully plant-based. It was a step-by-step process to turn this realisation into action. You shouldn’t be ashamed of taking your time! Any change is valuable, even if you need years to be able to live fully plant-based. 

Did you feel a little overwhelmed at the time?

Yes, when I first realised the extent to which animal-based products are destroying the environment and causing climate change, I thought “what can I do now? It’s too late” – but later I realised that I can still act and make a difference, even as an individual. And that’s why this pledge is so important – it gives you clear actions to follow which actually make a difference. 

Thank you for talking to us, Juliette!