We are joined by Sheena Chhabra, campaigner for the Plant Based Treaty—a groundbreaking global initiative tackling the climate and ecological crises by putting food systems at the heart of the solution.

The Plant Based Treaty is calling for a shift toward a just, plant-based food system that respects planetary boundaries, protects biodiversity, reforests the Earth, and creates a more resilient and equitable future. Recently, Sheena and the Plant Based Treaty team celebrated a major milestone: helping Darebin City Council become the first local government in Australia to endorse the Treaty, joining the ranks of progressive cities like Los Angeles and Amsterdam.

With a vision to see a global Plant Based Treaty adopted alongside the Paris Agreement, the organisation is driving policy change, strengthening networks, and supporting communities to transition to healthier, climate-friendly food systems.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Sheena’s journey into plant-based advocacy and environmental campaigning
• How the Plant Based Treaty came to be and what it aims to achieve
• The critical connection between food systems, climate change, and biodiversity loss
• Why reducing reliance on animal agriculture is key to cutting methane emissions
• How and why Australia is one of the world’s worst hotspots for land clearing and species extinction
• The vulnerabilities in our current food systems and how to build resilience with a plant-based shift
• The links between animal agriculture, antibiotic resistance, and zoonotic disease risks
• An introduction to The Safe and Trust report: The Plant Based Treaty’s Vegan Donut Economics Approach to the Food System
• The Treaty’s five core programs and what they’re doing to drive real change
• How individuals and institutions can support the movement
• What’s ahead for the Plant Based Treaty in 2025 and beyond

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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Gerard Wedderburn-Bisshop is a former Principal Scientist with the Queensland Government Natural Resources, where he spent three decades using satellite data to monitor vegetation cover and deforestation. Since leaving that position, he has co-authored the Beyond Zero Emissions’ Land Use Plan, worked with the NGO World Preservation Foundation, and serves as Director of Replant Byron. We had the privilege of closing out our last season with a chat with this incredible human, and we’re thrilled to welcome Gerard back for an update on his latest groundbreaking research!

In this episode, we explore Gerard’s latest paper, Increased Transparency in Accounting Conventions Could Benefit Climate Policy. He breaks down three major shifts in climate science and emissions accounting that challenge conventional thinking about what drives climate change—revealing that agriculture, particularly animal agriculture, is the leading cause of present-day warming.

This is a paradigm-shifting conversation, so grab your pen and notepaper (you’ll want to take notes, trust us!), and check out Gerard’s brief explainer video here.

In this episode, we discuss:

• A recap of Gerard’s previous research on the need for consistent carbon accounting
• Contentious gases and how we measure them – Global Warming Potential vs Effective Radiative Forcing
• The impact of cooling aerosols from fossil fuel emissions and why they complicate climate calculations.
• How we have undervalued the impact of deforestation, underestimated methane’s impact, and failed to account for cooling emissions.
• A game-changing revelation: updated metrics show agriculture is responsible for 60% of today’s global warming—with animal agriculture alone accounting for 53%.
• The overlooked power of natural drawdown—how nature has looked after us right from the start
• Why these improved methodologies haven’t been widely applied before, and what’s been standing in the way
• The expected response from the animal agriculture industry and how to navigate the greenwashing.
• The bigger picture: what role does animal agriculture play in humanity’s future?

Join us as we unpack the science, the solutions, and why a major shift in climate policy is needed—now more than ever!

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

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Nina Trinquet is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and PhD candidate based in Melbourne. Take a listen as Nina shares her wisdom on how a whole food plant-based diet can prevent and manage chronic disease. Nina works with individuals aiming to improve their health through diet, with a particular focus on cardiovascular health.

She is also an avid endurance runner with a passion for sports nutrition, making this a must-listen episode for athletes and health-conscious individuals alike.

Nina packs this episode full of evidence-based insights, practical nutrition tips, and inspiring discussions on creating a healthier, more sustainable future through food.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Nina’s background in prosthetics and orthotics, and how this led to plant-based dietetics
• Her love for endurance running and marathon goals for 2025
• The importance of strength training & nutrition in running performance
• Nina’s crucial work in transforming food systems in youth justice
• Why young men are obsessed with protein & what they’re missing
• Whole food plant-based vs. standard vegan diets—what’s the difference?
• How diet can prevent, manage & even reverse chronic disease
• Maximising iron & protein intake on a plant-based diet
• The importance of calorie density for plant-based athletes
• Common myths & misconceptions about plant-based eating
• Carbohydrates, saturated fat and insulin resistance in Type 2 Diabetes
• Nina’s PhD research at Monash University and how you can volunteer to support her work
• Her personal goals for 2025 & beyond

To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.

Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.