Shift land ownership/control into community hands for green space, reforestation, and community food gardens (asset transfer/CLTs/right-to-buy where applicable)
Why this action matters
Evidence-groundedCommunity control of land enhances resilience by leveraging local knowledge and place-based food systems, which are critical for adapting to climate change and reducing environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions and land use. Evidence shows that plant-based diets and sustainable land management practices, when guided by local communities, can significantly lower land and water use while supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Concept connections
LLM-generatedBBiosphere SSociety EEconomy · ▶effects of this action ◀prerequisites · Click a concept to explore related actions
Consequences of this action
Evidence-groundedThe action itself
Transferring council-owned land to community ownership through land trusts or right-to-buy schemes enables local communities to establish food-growing spaces and green areas, fostering local food production and environmental stewardship.
UK implications
In the UK, community-controlled land can support the growth of plant-based food systems, which have been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 83% in some scenarios, while also improving public health outcomes through increased access to fresh, nutritious food.
Global implications
The UK's experience with community land ownership can serve as a model for low- and middle-income countries, where similar approaches could help reduce land use impacts by up to 70% and support more sustainable food systems that align with global biodiversity and climate goals.
National policy stance
No dataCouncil positions (35)
Supporting — 25
Scientific foundation
Domain-level evidence from the peer-reviewed library
Climate Resilience
Sustainable development requires principles that address equity, futurity, and biodiversity, as outlined by Haughton [1999], to ensure decisions are fair and consider the needs of future generations [Giddings et al., 2002]. The separation of environmental, social, and economic sectors in sustainable development fails to create an integrated outlook, as noted by Giddings et al. [2002], because these areas are deeply interconnected [Giddings et al., 2002]. A principle-based approach to sustainable development, as emphasized by Giddings et al. [2002], must recognize the importance of biodiversity and ensure that policies protect ecosystems for future generations [Giddings et al., 2002].
Equity & Access
The Plant Based Treaty advocates for a shift to a food system within Earth's boundaries, emphasizing biosphere integrity and equitable land distribution [Rockström et al., 2023] The urgency for a systemic food system approach is highlighted by the need to halt the degradation of critical ecosystems caused by animal agriculture [Rockström et al., 2023] Sustainable development requires principles that move society beyond present approaches, including intergenerational equity and biodiversity protection [Giddings et al., 2002] The separation of human life from the environment and the production-consumption relationship is a fundamental issue in achieving sustainability [Giddings et al., 2002] A principle-based approach to sustainable development is necessary to ensure that policies consider the long-term impacts on future generations and biodiversity [Giddings et al., 2002]