As world leaders gather in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), the spotlight shines brightly on the critical role of food systems in addressing the global climate crisis. With food production responsible for a staggering third of global greenhouse gas emissions, the need for comprehensive and coordinated action has never been more pressing.

Unlocking the Potential of Food Systems to Combat Climate Change

Bridging the Gap: Updating National Climate Plans to Include Food Systems

At the previous COP28 conference, a significant milestone was reached as over 160 countries signed the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action. This declaration recognized the pivotal role of food systems in mitigating climate change, committing these nations to incorporate agriculture and food-related emissions into their national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).However, progress has been slow, with only an estimated 40 countries on track to have revised NDCs in time for COP30 next year in Belém, Brazil. This means that the vast majority of the signatory countries have yet to take concrete steps to address the climate impact of their food systems. Experts warn that without these critical updates to national climate plans, the global community's ability to meet its ambitious emissions reduction targets will be severely compromised.

Shifting Diets, Transforming Emissions: The Imperative of Dietary Change

The urgency of addressing food-related emissions is particularly acute in the Global North, where meat consumption plays a significant role in driving global agricultural and land-use emissions. Researchers have made it clear that without a shift towards more plant-based diets, many developed countries will be unable to meet their net-zero goals.The United Kingdom, for example, has been identified as a country that must prioritize dietary change as part of its revised national climate plan. Experts have strongly recommended that the UK government include strategies to reduce per capita meat consumption as a key component of its climate action efforts.This challenge is not unique to the UK, as the Global North as a whole grapples with the political and social complexities of shifting deeply entrenched dietary habits. Overcoming these barriers will be crucial if the world is to achieve the necessary emissions reductions from the food sector.

Navigating the UN Roadmap: Challenges and Opportunities

In response to the growing recognition of food systems' climate impact, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced a three-part roadmap at last year's COP28 conference. This roadmap aimed to chart a path forward for countries to align their food systems with climate and health goals.However, the implementation of this roadmap has faced significant delays and scrutiny. The full version of the first part of the roadmap has been delayed, and the current "brief" version has drawn criticism from experts, who have highlighted "missed opportunities for greenhouse gas emissions reductions" and a lack of clarity on how to sustainably increase productivity in the Global South while protecting the environment.Further setbacks have come in the form of a letter signed by over 100 academics, calling for the retraction of a controversial livestock "Pathways" report published at COP28. The authors argued that the report promoted the growth of the livestock industry while downplaying the climate impact of meat consumption.As the next installments of the roadmap are set to be unveiled at COP29, there are concerns about whether the FAO will adequately address the raised concerns and engage in a more inclusive, transparent, and reflective process to ensure the roadmap's credibility and effectiveness.

The Alliance of Champions: A Glimmer of Hope

Amidst the challenges, one coalition has emerged as a beacon of progress. The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF), comprising Norway, Brazil, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and Cambodia, was launched at COP28 with the aim of driving transformative change in their respective food systems.Supported by the Bezos Earth Fund, the Alliance has taken a comprehensive approach, addressing a wide range of priorities, from food waste reduction to gender parity advancement. Each member country faces unique challenges, and the Alliance has facilitated regular discussions to identify and tackle these issues collaboratively.One notable success story is Sierra Leone's efforts to reduce its reliance on rice imports and invest in its own national food production. By securing a $100 million investment from the African Development Bank, Sierra Leone has been able to increase rice production without encroaching on valuable rainforests, setting an example for other countries to follow.The Alliance's holistic and collaborative approach offers a glimmer of hope, demonstrating that with the right support and collective action, countries can navigate the complex landscape of food system transformation and contribute to the global fight against climate change.As the world gathers in Baku for COP29, the spotlight remains firmly on the urgent need to address the climate impact of food systems. The path forward is clear: countries must update their national climate plans to include concrete, quantifiable goals for reducing food-related emissions, while also tackling the thorny issue of dietary change in the Global North. The success or failure of the UAE Declaration will hinge on the willingness of the world's leading emitters to step up and take decisive action.The stakes have never been higher, and the time for action is now. By embracing the transformative potential of food systems, the global community can unlock a powerful solution to the climate crisis, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for all.