My Plate, My Planet Food for a Sustainable Nation An Open Letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Support the adoption of sustainability considerations in the 2015 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as recommended by the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Dear Secretaries Burwell and Vilsack: The following organizations and individuals urge you to adopt the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s recommendations on sustainability, which found: “a diet higher in plant-based foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, and lower in calories and animal-based foods is more health promoting and is associated with less environmental impact than is the current U.S. diet... “Current evidence shows that the average U.S. diet has a larger environmental impact in terms of increased greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water use, and energy use...” The Committee concluded that “linking health, dietary guidance, and the environment will promote human health and the sustainability of natural resources and ensure current and long-term food security.” As Americans, we rely on our government to provide accurate, science-based information that promotes the health of our families and our environment. The undersigned support the sustainability recommendations of the Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee calling for less meat and more plants in our diets for the sake of our health and the planet. Academy of Integrative John Hopkins Center For Kristy Del Coro, Nutritionist Health & Medicine a Liveable Future Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue Animal Welfare Institute Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Prof. Gidon Eshel, Bard College Brighter Green Education & Policy, Kathy Freston, Author Center for Agriculture and Columbia University Prof. Christopher Gardner, Food Systems, Vermont Law School League of Conservation Voters Stanford University Center for Biological Diversity Mississippi Association of Rev. Douglas A. Greenaway, Center for Climate Change and Health Cooperatives National WIC Association Center for Food Safety Namaste Foundation Dr. Helen Harwatt, Loma Linda University Center for Science in the Public Interest National WIC Association Dr. Martin C. Heller, University of Michigan Center for Social Inclusion Natural Resources Defense Council Graham Hill, Treehugger.com Center for Sustainable Systems, Nebraska Sustainable Fred Kirschenmann, Stone Barns University of Michigan Agriculture Society Pamela Koch, Laurie M. Tisch Center for Change Food Organic Consumers Association Food, Education & Policy Changing Tastes Pesticide Action Network Dr. Linnea Laestadius, Climate Reality Project North America University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Coalition for Healthy School Food Rainforest Action Network Anna Lappé, Small Planet Insitute Compassion in World Farming Real Food For Kids Francis Moore Lappé, Conservation International Roots of Change Small Planet Institute Craig and Susan McCaw Foundation Rural Advancement Fund Prof. Diana Liverman, Geographer Earth Day Network Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural Bill McKibben, Author Ecology Center Science and Environmental Kathleen Merrigan, Environmental Working Group Health Network George Washington University Factory Farming Awareness Coalition Sierra Club Kimball Musk, Kitchen Community Farmworker Association of Florida Slow Food California Prof. Marion Nestle, New York University First Nations Development Institute Policy Committee Robyn O’Brien, Author Food and Water Watch Slow Food USA Dr. Dean Ornish, University of California, Food Democracy Now! Socially Responsible San Francisco Food Revolution Network Agricultural Project Prof. Raj Patel, Food Tank The Carbon Underground University of Texas at Austin Friends of the Earth U.S. The Humane Society of the Prof. Bill Ripple, Oregon State University Genesee Dietetic Association United States John Robbins, Author Global Green USA Union of Concerned Scientists Maria Rodale, Rodale Inc GRACE Communications Foundation Virgin Unite Eric Schlosser, Author Green America Well.Org Laura Turner Seydel, Greenpeace USA James Cameron, Captain Planet Foundation Health Care Without Harm Lightstorm Entertainment Michele Simon, Food lawyer Healthy Food Action Suzy Amis Cameron, MUSE School Dr. Gunhild A. Stordalen, EAT Institute for a Sustainable Future Tom Colicchio, Chef Prof. David Tilman, Institute for Agriculture Tim Crosby, Thread Fund University of Minnesota and Trade Policy My Choice, My Voice Scan the code to go to health.gov and add your comments in support of sustainability in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans before May 8th. Pass it on! #MyPlateMyPlanet www.myplatemyplanet.org.