Online Meatless Monday Resource Center Launched by Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) has launched a new Meatless Monday open access, web-based global resource center that is hosted by the Bloomberg School of Public Health and curated by CLF. Created in collaboration with the Meatless Monday campaign, the website will house the essential and most relevant materials, tools, resources, and research that individuals and organizations can use to implement Meatless Monday programs and activities around the world. It will also highlight new and emerging approaches that can help people to create sustainable, healthy food systems in their communities and countries. 

CLF and the Bloomberg School recognize that high meat diets contribute to numerous interrelated, public health threats such as increased chronic disease burdens and degradation of planetary health. Every year, the public health community sees more evidence that supports the benefits of reducing meat consumption, and as the urgency grows, Meatless Monday evolves to meet the challenges. As an important public health tool, the Meatless Monday Resource Center will keep meat reduction at the front and center of public health agendas.

In a 2024 statement celebrating the 20th anniversary of Meatless Monday, Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD ’79, ScM ’75,  Dean of the Bloomberg School, said, “As members of the public health community, we must find new ways to incorporate meat reduction into our work, as we continue to build evidence and develop interventions to address the numerous, interrelated public health threats fueled by high meat diets. Meatless Monday has been embraced by high-profile chefs, food systems writers, and celebrities and adopted by a range of organizations and institutions worldwide, including schools, municipalities, restaurants, NGOs, and corporations in more than 40 countries.”

Meatless Monday was started in 2003 by legendary advertising and marketing innovator Sid Lerner, the founder of The Monday Campaigns, in association with CLF and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. Since the inception of the campaign, CLF has provided science advising and technical assistance to the campaign, quantifying impacts and initiating peer-reviewed research. Meatless Monday has become a global movement with the singular aim of encouraging people to reduce meat in their diet for their health and the health of the planet, specifically by skipping meat one day a week. 

Meatless Monday’s ongoing success is rooted in its simple approach—an accessible, achievable action that individuals, families, communities, and organizations can use to improve their health and the health of the planet. The new resource center aims to be as inspiring, accessible, and easy to use as the campaign itself.

“Meatless Monday's enduring versatility and adaptability are core to its value and relevance as a signature public health campaign with strong and lasting impact," says Shawn McKenzie, Director of CLF. The resource center will further secure Sid Lerner’s legacy and ensure that the campaign remains accessible and available to everyone engaged in public health and food systems change.

CLF will continue in its role as science adviser and technical assistance resource to the campaign, especially as the evidence supporting the benefits of reducing meat consumption expands and grows stronger every year. 

“Rooted in rigorous science and public health research, we know that Meatless Monday is a key action toward improving people’s health and the health of the planet,” says Becky Ramsing, senior program officer at CLF. “Meatless Monday has grown into one of the world’s most accessible and creative public health campaigns. We’re excited to launch the Meatless Monday resource center, empowering new generations of public health practitioners to advance more sustainable, healthy diets and food systems.”