Untapped Opportunities for Climate Action: The Multiple Benefits of Transforming Food Systems

By Karin Kleinbooi, Senior Regional Programme Manager, Solidaridad 

In May, a new analysis, Untapped Opportunities for Climate Action: An Assessment of Food Systems in Nationally Determined Contributions, by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, in partnership with Climate Focus and Solidaridad, revealed there is huge potential for global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in one sector that remains largely overlooked: food systems transformation. Food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste account for nearly a third of total global GHG emissions. Within the Partnership, 52 countries have requested some support for agriculture, making it the second biggest sector in terms of requests, and nearly half of these requests relate to food policy. However, our research demonstrates that most countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) fail to address food production, consumption, and waste systematically or comprehensively.

Food systems transformation thus offers policymakers a clear way of enhancing national climate plans and delivering faster and deeper emissions cuts. Indeed, the analysis highlights how food systems offer an opportunity to realize at least 20% of the emissions reductions needed by 2050 to prevent catastrophic climate change. Unless governments take action they will not be able to close the emissions gap and keep global warming below the critical 1.5°C targets of warming above pre-industrial levels established in the Paris Agreement.

Solidaridad Network Global Collection 

The analysis assessed the NDCs of 14 countries, including Partnership Country Members Bangladesh, Colombia, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vanuatu, alongside other countries such as China. This detailed set of country assessments, along with a summary report and case studies, highlights opportunities to reduce emissions in the food sector at the national level, and lessons for how countries can incorporate inclusive food systems transformation into their emissions-reduction plans and benefit from the associated health and social benefits. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, the country assessments provide governments and other actors with a toolkit for food systems transformation that drives significant emissions reductions in coordination with domestic policy priorities, such as improved public health and gender equality.

While this research reveals that NDCs show some alignment with existing and forthcoming food systems policies, certain inconsistencies persist. For example, none of NDCs reviewed fully accounted for emissions from food imports, particularly those linked to deforestation and the destruction of nature and ecosystems. Similarly, food waste is a major oversight. Each year, one-third of all food produced in the world — approximately 1.3 billion tonnes — is lost or wasted. France is the only country we assessed whose NDC includes comprehensive measures to reduce food loss and waste. While China passed an anti-food-waste law in April 2021, food waste is not reflected in their NDC.

Siloed policymaking, and the disconnection between policy and implementation, are critical barriers to transforming our food systems and improving public health outcomes. Many food policies exist, but often governments lack the sufficient resources or willpower to implement them. Colombia, Senegal, South Africa and Vanuatu have mechanisms in place to coordinate cross-ministerial NDC actions. In addition, the NDCs of Colombia, Bangladesh, and Kenya include vehicles to direct public and private finance to food systems transformation.

Solidaridad Network Global Collection 

It is encouraging that country governments are working on food systems transformation and that solutions for emissions-reductions in this sector are already being developed and implemented. Locally-led, agroecological and regenerative agriculture play a critical role in helping to reach climate goals, as these methods for food production are less emissions intensive. Our assessment found that Partnership countries such as Colombia, Senegal, and Kenya have the most ambitious measures in place to promote these practices. Similarly, Colombia, Kenya, South Africa and Vanuatu’s NDCs each include elements that promote climate and food systems resilience. As extreme weather events continue to hamper food production and global supply chain disruption increases, such measures have a critical role to play in our future global food security. Globally, women play a central role in food production and children’s nutrition, therefore any efforts to transform food systems to reduce emissions must engage them. In this area, Vanuatu, Kenya and Senegal have all made efforts to ensure their NDCs are gender inclusive.

With these examples of good practice to draw on, country governments must now draw on these resources to improve coordination and develop a systemic approach that incentivizes/advances the maximum benefits from food systems transformation. While food systems are vulnerable to climate change, they also offer a critical opportunity. Accelerating food systems transformation can help countries to achieve their climate goals and drive public health benefits. As the Report and Practical Guide show, embedding actions into NDCs that make food systems more sustainable, inclusive and equitable can make a significant contribution to preventing climate breakdown.

The FAO, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, and the NDC Partnership will be presenting the result of the analysis during a webinar to be held on June 21 at 15.30 CEST– Please register here: https://fao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QiS41huxR0yAW7syuw0jVQ