No longer a side dish: COP28 focuses on the influence of Food Systems on Climate 

By Vivek Saini 

Food systems encompass what we eat, how we cultivate, transport, and prepare it, and how we manage its disposal. Remarkably, over the past three decades, the conclusive agreements resulting from the annual UN climate summits have mainly overlooked the influence of food systems on our climate. This paradigm shifted in Dubai this year, where the conference commenced with a landmark declaration on sustainable agriculture endorsed by over 130 countries.

Food takes center stage at COP28

The COP28 UAE declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action has been endorsed by over 130 nations. This historic declaration commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production and consumption. Representing 5.7 billion people and responsible for 75% of global emissions from food-related activities, these countries underscore the significance of recognizing food systems in climate discussions. Notably, this marks the first formal acknowledgement of the crucial role of food systems in the nearly three-decade history of climate summits.

The considerable impact of food production and consumption on greenhouse gas emissions is evident, constituting approximately one-third of global emissions. Despite meat and dairy contributing to emissions, they provide just 18% of the world’s calories. Furthermore, these practices contribute to environmental issues such as deforestation, pandemic risk, and water pollution. In contrast, plant-based foods generally have a smaller carbon footprint and require significantly less land and water.

Receiving broad acclaim, the declaration has been hailed as a positive step. Clement Metivier, a climate and biodiversity policy expert at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature in the UK, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “It’s great to have food on the COP menu finally.” He noted the increasing momentum around transforming food systems to address biodiversity and climate crises.

Despite this positive reception, the declaration has encountered criticism from food experts, including the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems. The scrutiny stems from a lack of specific targets or explicit measures to address sustainable diets.

The Declaration 

Signed on December 1st, 2023, the declaration acknowledges the crucial role of agriculture and food systems in contributing to and mitigating climate change. It highlights the significant threats to food availability, especially for vulnerable communities. It outlines objectives to shift towards lower-emission diets, enhance resilience, ensure food security, and advocate for the well-being of marginalized workers.

Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, the UAE minister of climate change and environment and the Cop28 food systems lead, emphasized the imperative for countries to prioritize food systems and agriculture in their climate ambitions. This involves addressing global emissions while safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of farmers on the frontline of climate change.

Following this, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed a new roadmap to chart the course for aligning the world’s food production with global climate goals. This roadmap parallels the one the International Energy Agency outlined for the energy transition in 2021. The FAO pathway specifically underscores the reduction of methane emissions from livestock by 25%, the halving of food waste emissions by 2030, and the recommendation to cultivate a more biodiverse range of crops than the world currently relies on.

By endorsing the Declaration, signatories have pledged to integrate food and agriculture into their forthcoming rounds of emissions reduction plans, commonly known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This commitment reflects their dedication to fulfilling the goals of the Paris Agreement. However, the initial impact of the Declaration appears likely to be constrained.

What do the Experts say?

Despite the significant announcements, there was a prevailing sense that food took on greater significance than ever. Danielle Nierenberg, a regular attendee since Cop16 in Cancún in 2010, noted a significant shift in the conversation around food. This year, she was particularly heartened to observe increased interest from those outside the sector, breaking down silos and extending beyond the usual audience. While Nierenberg left the conference encouraged by the heightened attention to food systems and appreciated their mention in the final agreement, she wanted stronger language in the document. However, the final deal fell short of this expectation, incorporating only scattered references to food systems, primarily within the adaptation-focused section rather than addressing mitigation more extensively.

Professor W. A. Pengue of Ecological Economics at the National University of General Sarmiento and Director of GEPAMA, Landscape Ecology and Environment Group of the University of Buenos Aires told CFC, “The declaration focuses on the productivity of agroecosystems, rather than their stability. For millions of farmers worldwide, the stability of their agroecosystem in the context of climate change is crucial to guarantee food permanently. Sometimes, the most productive crops are the most sensitive to climate change, and this is something to take into account in the years to come.” 

“On the other hand, it is striking that it only focuses on emissions and less on carbon fixation in the land, e.g. balance. In several countries around the world, with natural grasslands or pastures, carbon fixation is a practice that can serve to anchor carbon in the soil”. Pengue said, “Thirdly, they do not consider in the declaration a clear and forceful recommendation that promotes the abandonment of fossil fuels in agriculture and food systems. The carbon emitted in the life cycle of food is still enormous, and transport is often even more so. I think that there, the promotion of systems that take advantage of renewable energies would have been relevant since in all processes, this is very intense in agriculture”.

Pengue emphasized that The declaration of new technological processes speaks little in two relevant and growing aspects: artificial intelligence, as new emerging technology, and social technology, as essential for the survival of entire peoples in the face of climate change. 

Corporate Influence vs. Climate Action: Big Ag Lobbyists and the Tightrope of Progress

This year, a notable obstacle to significant progress was the pronounced influence of corporate interests at the conference. Similar to fossil fuel lobbyists asserting that the world can’t forgo oil and gas for energy security, big ag lobbyists uphold a current status quo that actively contributes to planetary warming in the name of food security. The difference in attendees’ summaries underscores the delicate balance in Cop discussions—acknowledging the progress made while remaining realistic about the distance yet to be covered.

Lobbyists, particularly big meat and dairy representatives, were prominently present at the Dubai summit, marking a threefold increase in agribusiness participants compared to the previous year. Among notable entities, they have included JBS, linked to Amazon deforestation; Bayer, facing lawsuits over its Roundup weedkiller’s alleged cancer risks; and Nutrien, a fertilizer giant producing synthetic fertilizers from fossil fuels.

Despite calls for reforms to limit corporate influence at UN climate meetings, sustainable food system experts found encouragement in the direction COP is taking regarding food discussions.

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15. Image source:

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