Final month, the 28th version of the United Nations Local weather Change Convention (COP28) got here to an in depth. For a interval of two weeks, an estimated 70,000 delegates – made up of world leaders, enterprise specialists, younger individuals, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and numerous different stakeholders – gathered to debate the local weather disaster.
Though it has lengthy been recognised that world warming must be addressed, and that the agri-food system is a serious contributor to world greenhouse gasoline (GHG) emissions (near one-third of whole anthropogenic GHG emissions is attributed to meals and agriculture), the occasion has usually been criticised for overlooking these contributions.
Progress was made at COP27 in Egypt, the place advocates of meals techniques transformation hosted the primary ever food-focused pavilion (Food4Climate Pavilion). The occasion additionally devoted a day to agriculture and adaptation. However some felt that concentrate on supply-side options pushed sustainable diets off the desk.
“COP27 maintained a agency deal with supply-side options to sort out meals insecurity, avoiding the politically extra contentious demand-side problems with guaranteeing nutritious and sustainable diets for all,” commented Tim Benton of think-tank Chatham Home on the time.
This 12 months, the ‘tide turned’ in the precise path, in accordance with members of the Food4Climate Pavilion. However was meals excessive sufficient on the agenda? And crystal ball-gazing into the longer term, what’s anticipated to be on the menu at COP29?
Meals strikes up the agenda at COP28
Even earlier than COP28 kicked off, there have been indicators the subject of meals was working its means up the agenda.
Local weather influence labels had been rolled out throughout 5 Carrefour shops in Dubai, together with at COP28, for instance. The carbon footprint of buyers’ bought gadgets was additionally printed on the backside of their receipts on the COP28 retailer location.
On the occasion, an elevated vary of plant-based meals choices (two-thirds vegan and vegetarian) had been accessible to delegates, together with vegan quick meals from Neat Burger and plant-based sushi alternate options from Roots and Rolls. And seeking to the official agenda, a complete day (10 December) was devoted to the subject of ‘Meals, Agriculture and Water’.
At COP28, the ‘tide turned’, in accordance with Juliette Tronchon, senior coverage and public affairs specialist at ProVeg Worldwide, who co-hosted the Food4Climate Pavilion at COP28 alongside associations and business gamers resembling Compassion in World Farming, the Plant Based mostly Meals Institute, Altering Markets Basis, Unattainable Meals and plant-based CPG main Upfield.
“For 3 many years, the hyperlink between our dietary selections and the warming of our planet has been ignored at local weather conferences…Nonetheless the tide turned at COP28, the place individuals paid considerably extra consideration to how dangerous our meals techniques are; not simply to the surroundings but additionally on meals safety, human well being, individuals’s livelihoods and the way animals are handled,” Tronchon informed FoodNavigator.
For the coverage and public affairs lead, the Pavilion performed a serious position in pushing meals up the agenda. “All through the convention, the Pavilion introduced policymakers and specialists collectively to share insights, analysis and modern options to encourage a shift in the direction of plant-rich, balanced, and numerous diets.”
Different facets of COP28 additionally served to deliver agri-food to the forefront of discussions, together with the signing of the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Meals Programs and Local weather Motion by greater than 150 international locations to adapt and rework meals techniques to mitigate the local weather disaster. Additional, greater than 120 international locations backed the UAE Local weather and Well being Declaration to put ‘well being on the coronary heart of local weather motion’.
The signing of those declarations had been ‘vital milestones’, famous Tronchon. “And let’s not overlook that for the primary time, an entire day was devoted to the subject of meals. This created a platform the place concrete, systemic and pragmatic options may very well be put ahead and crucially, had been taken severely.”
So how did COP28 fall quick being genuinely thought-about a ‘meals COP’?
Whereas the signing of those declarations was celebrated, issues have been raised that they don’t go far sufficient.
The Emirates Declaration, for instance, has been criticised for its lack of legally binding commitments. “We can’t meet our world local weather objectives with out pressing motion to rework the economic meals system, which is chargeable for one-third of GHG emissions and 15% of fossil gas use,” commented Lim Li Ching, co-chair of IPES-Meals and senior researcher for Third World Community, on the time. “However whereas that is a necessary first step, the language stays very obscure – and particular actions and measurable targets are conspicuously lacking.”
One other Food4Climate Pavilion co-host, Upfield, acknowledges that total COP28 represents a ‘optimistic step’ in the precise path. The signing of the Emirates Declaration was an apparent milestone, whereas the ‘landmark’ UNEP report ‘What’s Cooking’ additionally laid out a complete set of coverage suggestions to take away obstacles to the adoption of extra plant-based meals as a local weather resolution, famous Perran Harvey, senior world coverage lead at Upfield.
“Nonetheless, wanting forward, these commitments and proposals have to be translated into tangible, concrete plans at nationwide stage – a facet the place COP28 fell quick.
“This could embody championing much less resource-intense diets, for instance by means of equitable VAT for plant-based meals and readdressing present subsidy schemes to incentivise the manufacturing of low carbon meals, making plant-based meals extra inexpensive and accessible.
“If we’re to stage the enjoying discipline, we’d like strategic funding in analysis and growth round plant-based meals, greening public procurement practices and guaranteeing nationwide dietary tips take sustainability under consideration.”
Crystal ball-gazing: What’s on the menu for COP29?
The 29th session of the Convention of the Events (COP29) is scheduled to happen 11-24 November in host nation Azerbaijan. It’s too early to know very a lot concerning the upcoming convention, though Azerbaijan’s first English language newspaper has printed the names of its Organizational Committee for COP29. The 28-strong record is male solely, sparking criticism and a name for inclusion and variety.
As to what members of the Food4Climate Pavilion expect from COP29, ProVeg’s Tronchon recommended she hopes a extra numerous vary of views are delivered to the desk. “To affect actual change and make the world’s meals system more healthy, extra balanced, and higher for the planet, we’ve obtained to dig deeper than the floor.
“We have to hearken to the people who find themselves most deeply related to the meals system, specifically farmers and people dwelling within the World South, and I feel there shall be larger emphasis on this at COP29. We have to hear a various vary of views if we’re to really perceive the challenges we face and uncover extra sustainable pathways.”
The coverage and public affairs specialist is satisfied there’s a lot to be learnt from those that rely on the worldwide meals system. Their lived experiences illustrate the disparities and vulnerabilities inherent within the system and the urgency of implementing equitable options, we had been informed. “Our purpose is to make sure their voices are coronary heart at COP29.”
As to how members of the Food4Climate Pavilion plan to make sure meals continues to work its means up the agenda, Upfield’s Harvey stated one essential means shall be by transitioning declarations on world meals techniques into actionable plans. “Upfield needs to see concrete commitments on selling and supporting sustainable, wholesome diets, permitting for a simply transition for high-emitting sectors.”
An preliminary ‘promising instance’ is one set by Denmark: the nation has set the ‘world’s first’ motion plan for plant-based meals that features funds and subsidy schemes, recommendation for start-ups, and initiatives to draw funding and strengthen Danish plant-based exports.
“Nations just like the Netherlands and Germany have additionally earmarked investments into pioneering and supporting the adoption of low-carbon plant-based meals,” commented Harvey.
“Lastly, and most significantly, at COP29 we have to see an actual meals techniques strategy – wanting on the entire worth chain, together with the environmental impacts of each agricultural manufacturing and meals consumption, the place at present these two subjects are sometimes mentioned in a disjointed means.
“The UAE Declaration was first step, and we will go additional.”
