Zoey Kaul: Advancing Plant-Based Climate Solutions on Campus

Zoey Kaul is a third-year Honors student studying Government and Sustainability Studies, with a Smart Cities certification.

Her early exposure to environmental mindfulness and conscious consumption began in preschool, largely due to her father’s ecological vigilance.

Hi, I'm Zoey! I'm a senior at the University of Texas at Austin currently double majoring in Government and Sustainability Studies while also pursuing a certificate in Smart Cities. I'm driven, diligent, and super passionate—especially about anything regarding sustaining the longevity of our planet. I serve as a leader in a number of organizations on campus, including Students Fighting Climate Change, TexPIRG, Longhorns Don’t Litter, Green Events, Plant Futures, and the Sustainability Caucus within Student Government. My more specialized studies include environmental policy, political theory, sustainable development, urban design, and music (piano, guitar, violin, and ukulele). In May 2025, I will graduate. I am looking for full time employment positions or opportunities to conduct/assist research related to analyzing the impact of local or national level environmental policy. I am also looking to connect with individuals and groups that are working in the climate and sustainability fields.

Zoey is particularly excited about the potential for plant-centric food systems to significantly improve the environment. She notes that unlike sectors such as the automotive industry, which rely on future technological advancements, the food system can enact change through existing solutions. These include increasing plant growth and crop diversity, reducing food waste throughout the supply chain, and shifting from meat-heavy diets to plant-rich diets, which could reduce food system emissions by 708 gigatons. She highlights that using 50% of these strategies could limit global warming to 1.5°C, while fully adopting them could begin putting carbon back into the soil.

A fun fact about Zoey: she is a third-generation Longhorn and a fourth-generation pianist. Her grandmother studied music at the University of Texas at Austin, and her great-grandmother studied music at Juilliard.