The first global declaration on curbing emissions from food production agreed during week one of COP28 is a start, say researchers. However, one must acknowledge that the declaration avoids addressing some of the most contentious issues in the realm of emissions reduction.
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More than 130 countries have signed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, a declaration pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from processes related to producing and consuming food. These countries represent 5.7 billion people and 75% of all emissions from global food production and consumption, according to this year’s host, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The agreement marks a historic moment in the nearly three-decade history of climate summits, as it is the first time that the importance of food systems is formally recognised.
Food production and consumption contribute substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, constituting approximately one-third of the global emissions, with meat and dairy accounting for emissions but providing just 18% of the world’s calories. Meat and dairy production are also leading causes of other environmental ills, including deforestation, pandemic risk, and water pollution. Plant-based foods typically have a much smaller carbon footprint, and require far less land and water.
The declaration has garnered widespread approval. “It’s great to finally have food on the COP menu,” said Clement Metivier, a climate and biodiversity policy expert at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature in the UK. “There is really a growing momentum around food systems transformation to tackle both the biodiversity and climate crisis.”
However, the declaration has faced scrutiny from food experts, including the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, due to the lack of specific targets or explicit measures to tackle sustainable diets.
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The Declaration
The declaration, signed on December 1st, 2023 acknowledges the pivotal role of agriculture and food systems in both contributing to and mitigating climate change. It recognises the significant threats to food availability, particularly for vulnerable communities, and delineates goals to transition to lower-emissions diets, bolster resilience, enhance food security, and advocate for the well-being of marginalised workers.
By signing the Declaration, signatories committed to incorporating food and agriculture into their upcoming rounds of emissions reduction plans, commonly referred to as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), demonstrating their commitment to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement. But its initial impact looks likely to be limited.
Notably, the declaration lacks legal binding, and it overlooks the significant role of fossil fuels within food systems, such as the use of transportation, farm machinery, and refrigeration. Furthermore, the latest draft text, crucial for all nations to endorse at the conclusion of COP28, does not address food systems. “It was a glaring omission,” said Metivier, who raised hopes for rectification in the final version.
“It’s at least a commitment at the highest level, but there’s still not much specificity in terms of what actually needs to be done,” said biodiversity and agriculture researcher Lim Li Ching at the Third World Network, a non-governmental organisation based in Malaysia. “We need an inclusion of food systems and phasing out of fossil fuels to be built into the revision of national climate commitments.”
Will It Work?
The declaration is… vague
We cannot meet our global climate goals without urgent action to transform the industrial food system,” said Lim Li Ching, co-chair of IPES-Food and senior researcher for Third World Network. “But while this is an essential first step, the language remains very vague – and specific actions and measurable targets are conspicuously missing”.
The resolution will only be meaningful if governments turn the promises into real policies. “The 134 countries who have committed to the declaration will need to work with every actor in the food system to deliver real lasting change”, says Jennifer Morris, CEO of global environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy.
Global food systems are complex
Reducing emissions from agriculture is a complex task, as it involves changing farming practices, land use, and potentially altering dietary patterns. The diverse nature of agricultural systems
globally makes it challenging to find one-size-fits-all solutions that are effective across different regions and farming contexts.
For example, reducing meat consumption may be feasible for individuals in high-income countries; however, the situation is more complex in low- and middle-income nations. In these countries, meat serves as a scarce protein source for many, meaning cutting down on meat is not as achievable.
The nutritional needs of different individuals must also be taken into account. The universal healthy reference diet, created by the EAT–Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health demonstrates what an ideal diet would look like that increases the likelihood of attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It prioritises the consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and more, over red meat and processed foods. However, some researchers questioned whether the diet would provide enough nutrition for people in low-income settings.
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Economic and political challenges
Implementing changes in food systems may also face resistance from powerful economic and political interests. Agricultural industries, particularly those tied to conventional and intensive farming practices, may resist changes that could impact their profitability. Transitioning to more sustainable practices might require financial investments and changes in production models that some businesses may find economically challenging.
Concerns have been raised about the influence of the meat industry, whose lobbying reportedly includes efforts to create “positive livestock content” at COP28. A recent Guardian investigation exposed how pressure from the meat industry led to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) diluting reports and suppressing evidence of livestock’s impact on the climate emergency. Notably, the COP28 declaration does not explicitly mention meat or livestock, raising questions about the industry’s role in shaping climate related policies.
The Question at Large
As the world grapples with the urgency of addressing the agricultural impact on climate change, the question lingers: Will this declaration actually work?
While it is a first-of-its-kind international agreement, the declaration’s vagueness, lack of specific targets, and the absence of legal binding raise concerns about its effectiveness. The complex landscape of global food systems, coupled with potential resistance from influential economic interests, particularly in the meat industry, underscores the challenges ahead. The upcoming revisions of national climate commitments provide an opportunity to rectify current shortcomings and pave the way for a more concrete and impactful approach to curbing emissions. Ultimately, its success hinges on the translation of commitments into policies and the collaboration of nations and stakeholders across the food system spectrum.
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