Food systems have delivered many human development benefits over recent decades. But those same food systems are pushing us beyond the Earth’s planetary boundaries1 and generating considerable health, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges. By working together across the value chain to transform the way food is grown, produced, processed, packaged, distributed, and consumed, we can create more secure, resilient, and sustainable food systems2. We believe that that no national climate action plan is complete without including the role of food systems, so we are bringing concrete solutions to the table at COP28.
We are excited to be participating at COP28, where food systems have been placed centre stage for the first time. The United Arab Emirates presidency for COP28 is calling for governments to sign a first-ever Leaders Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Action, and for the private sector to commit to specific targets and tangible action in their own contexts. We have identified four pathways for change and will launch our ambitions and targets for them at COP28.
To follow our sessions at the Swedish Pavilion at COP28, check out the live stream here
We are very excited to be joining the Swedish Pavilion at COP28, hosted by Business Sweden, alongside companies such as Volvo, IKEA and AstraZeneca. You can follow all 60+ sessions online.
Our new white paper, published ahead of COP28, is a scenario analysis on how food systems can drive ecological, social, and economic wellbeing on our planet, with a safe and just transition.
1Planetary boundaries is a framework to describe the limits within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive Rockström, Johan; Steffen, Will; Noone, Kevin; Persson, Åsa; Chapin, F. Stuart; Lambin, Eric F.; Lenton, Timothy M.; Scheffer, Marten; Folke, Carl; Schellnhuber, Hans Joachim; Nykvist, Björn (2009). “A safe operating space for humanity”. Nature. 461 (7263): 472–475.
2Sustainable food systems mean growing, producing, processing, packaging, distributing and consuming food without negatively impacting the planet. Retrieved from OECD. (2019). Accelerating Climate Action.