On the planet’s current trajectory, emissions from food systems alone will exceed 1.5°C between 2051-2063. A new report from the Food Systems Partnership – Pathways for food systems transformation – calls for food and agriculture to be central to global climate dialogue and negotiations. The report was launched on the fourth day of the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB58) (8 June 2023), and is expected to lay the groundwork for the negotiations at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai later this year. See Figure 1 below for an overview of the six critical pathways needed for food systems transformation.
Figure 1: Six critical pathways for food systems transformation
Adopting a food systems approach
“The update to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture negotiated at COP27 saw, for the first time, the inclusion of the term ‘food systems’ in the final text.” The Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB58) established itself as the next milestone in the run up to the Global Stocktaking moment and COP28, where Parties and non-party stakeholders can accelerate a food systems approach to address interconnected climate, health and economic challenges.
“The WWF [World Wildlife Fund] submission on the updated Sharm-El Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture (the successor to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture) makes the case for anchoring a food systems approach in the Joint Work and provides a series of arguments for how embedding such an approach would help in delivering its objectives.” By adopting a food systems approach, The Food Systems Partnership calls on the outcomes of the SB58, COP28 and beyond to support the role of food systems in achieving climate targets through the proposed ‘Six critical pathways for food systems transformation.’
“The newly formed Food Systems Partnership, which includes EIT Food, the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), Clim-Eat, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Carrier and Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH), evolved from the first ever Food Systems Pavilion which hosted two weeks of programming at COP27 and campaigned for the inclusion of a food systems approach within the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture.”
“The Pathways report synthesizes key findings from national action plans, analysis of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and assessments from leading food organisations including WWF, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food and the Food and Land Use Coalition. While there has been a positive trend in the recognition of food systems as part of national climate solutions, the studies reveal that most countries are yet to realize the full potential of including and implementing action on food systems in their climate strategies and action plans. “
“Despite food and agriculture being recognized as the largest sources of environmental degradation, there is no mention of food or food systems in any of the four Global Goals for 2050 outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework launched at CBD COP15 in November last year.”
Within the report, various countries are highlighted in the different pathways necessary for food systems transformation. Pathway 1: Enhance – collaboration and inclusion across all parts of our food system (Colombia and Canada), Pathway 2: Enable – a transition to healthy, nutritious and sustainable diets for all (Costa Rica), Pathway 3: Embrace – agricultural reform and nature-positive production (Liberia), Pathway 4: Increase – action against food waste and loss (The Gambia), Pathway 5: Transform – financial mechanisms to support sustainable, equitable food systems (Germany) and Pathway 6: Champion – consistent, accurate monitoring to track global progress on implementation.
Pathway 6: Champion
Numerous parties including national governments and the private sector must CHAMPION consistent, accurate monitoring and reporting to track global progress on implementation of food system transformation.
“There are presently a number of challenges around accurately measuring and conveying progress on the implementation of country NDCs [Nationally Determined Contributions], and therefore global efforts to monitor food systems emissions and stay within the critical threshold of 1.5°C. One key component is that emissions associated with imported food products represent a considerable portion of a country’s ‘attributable’ GHG emissions, yet remain unaccounted for in policy or decision-making. As it stands, no country’s NDC fully accounts for emissions associated with food imports. Policy change in relation to ‘offshoring emissions’, tracking externalities, and accounting for the environmental, social and health impacts of food systems policies and practices requires new mindsets, tools and methodologies.
“We know that food systems transformation is already happening with positive climate, health and socio-economic impacts, and this work needs to feature more deliberately in action plans. Consistent, accurate ‘stocktaking’ provides valuable evidence of how local, regional, and national food systems initiatives are contributing to climate action, nutrition security and health, as well as resilience, biodiversity restoration, and economic empowerment.” COP28 will be a key milestone, both to recognize progress and achievement and to provide momentum and focus for the next phase of action on food systems.
References
Pathways for Food Systems Transformation. Food Systems Partnership. June 8, 2023. Available at: https://foodsystemspavilion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Pathways-for-food-systems-transformation-report.pdf
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