As meat and dairy representatives turned out to COP28 in record numbers, the climate summit’s promised food systems transformation policies fell short – and the livestock lobby is delighted.

COP28 began with a lot of promises, but as is typical with most of these conferences, it didn’t really go full-tilt on any of them. Take the food system, for example. Last year’s summit was dubbed the food COP for its overdue prioritisation of the agricultural sector, with two-thirds of the food served being vegetarian or vegan, in a nod to the climate footprint of the livestock industry.

There was talk about a food systems transformation, rich people eating less meat, and mitigation measures – but the resulting text was lacking and vague, with not much real progress and no binding targets. The UN FAO didn’t say that meat and dairy consumption needs to be reduced, even though they account for the majority of the food system’s emissions. This is despite the UNEP producing a report endorsing alternative proteins as a viable and sustainable solution to animal agriculture during the conference itself.

But this shouldn’t really come as a surprise. The FAO has been in cahoots with the livestock sector for years – the latter has successfully lobbied over the years to water down the true impact of animal agriculture in the FAO’s reporting. And COP28 itself saw the number of meat and dairy lobbyists triple, just as smallholders and family farmers felt left out.

Now, the livestock industry is celebrating what it reckons is a positive outcome from the UN climate summit, with representatives sharing their enthusiasm and delight on a virtual panel just a week after the COP28 ended, as reported by DeSmog.

What meat and dairy lobbyists said about COP28

Hosted by trade publication Feedstuffs, the online discussion saw livestock lobby groups hail COP28 as a win, noting that there had been widespread recognition at the conference that agriculture was a “solution” to climate change. This is in spite of the sector being responsible for a third of global emissions, and livestock itself contributing to 11-19.6% of the total.

Constance Cullmann, president of US lobby group Animal Feed Industry Association, said the summit resulted in “a far more positive outcome than we had anticipated”, noting that it was the first time she’d “felt that optimistic” after a “large international gathering like this one”.

She was also pleased with the “strong recognition” at COP28 that meat and dairy “had a real role in meeting the nutritional needs of folks around the globe”. Cullmann labelled the FAO’s roadmap as “music to our ears”, welcoming its emphasis on “production and efficiency” over “looking at reduced consumption of animal protein”.

Representing the US Pork Board, Jamie Burr said he was “excited to see” that the FAO recognised efficiency as the best pathway to reduce emissions, describing US agriculture as the “most efficient in the world”. Eric Mittenthal, who was at the panel on behalf of the Meat Institute, talked about the importance of sharing the message that livestock farming is necessary for nutrition and sustainability. He added that the lobby group – which represents the likes of JBS, Cargill and Tyson, among others – has demonstrated how agriculture can be a “solution” for “healthy people and a healthy planet”.

The panellists also discussed criticism of their industry and the need to keep up positive messaging. Mittenthal suggested that COP28 attendees were “not representing the science or the reality on the ground”, which is why the industry’s presence at the conference was crucial. He added that collaboration is key as “groups opposed to animal agriculture will come back stronger”, and partnering with NGOs could help the sector “be taken seriously”.

Cullmann, meanwhile, said that the sector had got “breathing room” with the summit, but added that “this is a marathon for us”. “We need to jump into that and make sure that we don’t take the pressure off of communicating the incredible work that’s been done for decades and continues to be done,” she said about the year ahead. “The short answer is: not take the foot off the gas pedal – we’ve got to keep pushing.”

Addressing COP28’s failure to deliver its food promises

Despite hopes of faster action to transform the food system, climate experts said COP28’s declarations and reports were well short of what’s required. On the second day, 130 countries signed a declaration on sustainable food systems, but Lim Li Ching, co-chair of the International Panel of Experts on Food Systems, criticised the text for its “vague language” and pointed out the lack of any mention of “reducing overconsumption of industrially produced meat”.

The FAO’s roadmap, which was initially expected to advise rich countries to eat less meat, did not make any such explicit recommendations, only proposing a 25% reduction in livestock methane emissions by 2030. In fact, it actually promoted the increase of aquaculture by 75%, and said meat production needs to be increased in lower-income countries to address health challenges.

“The Global Roadmap has been developed with reference to and based on existing scientific and peer-reviewed publications. In no stage of the development of the Roadmap were livestock industries consulted, or any inputs were received from them,” the FAO told DeSmog.

Then there was the Global Stocktake, where agriculture was only mentioned in terms of adaptation to climate change, not mitigation. “Action on food systems transformation is still dangerously ignored,” Emile Frison, senior advisor to the Agroecology Coalition, told DeSmog.

Last month, experts and academics from five universities criticised the FAO’s failure to recommend a cut in meat consumption in a letter published in the Nature journal. “By failing to recognize the need to reduce the production and consumption of animal-sourced foods, the FAO misses a central element of a climate-friendly food system,” said lead author Cleo Verkuijl, who is a researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute. “It’s like publishing a 1.5°C roadmap for the energy sector that ignores the need to scale back fossil fuels.”

Around the same time, a survey of 210 climate and food scientists showed that they agreed meat and dairy production needs to be significantly reduced, and quickly. The experts said livestock emissions must peak by next year, and be slashed by 60% by the end of the decade. And 92% of experts said reducing livestock emissions is key to limiting temperature rises to 2°C, while 85% stated that it’s important for human diets to shift from “livestock-derived foods to livestock replacement foods”.

In response, the FAO told DeSmog: “We believe that some comments on the change in diets and the role of animal products in them are either misinformed because people have not properly read the roadmap report, or deliberately disingenuous for the sake of feeding vested interests narratives.”

But it’s hard to shake that narrative off when you consider the FAO’s relationship with the livestock lobby, and the latter’s effects on the former’s policy recommendations and emissions reporting. No wonder the meat and dairy executives are delighted, though. Meanwhile, we continue to head towards a world where the food system takes up half of our carbon budget by 2050.

The post ‘Music to Our Ears’: Meat Lobby Celebrates ‘Positive Outcomes’ for Industry at COP28 appeared first on Green Queen.

The number of policy recommendations and funding announcements at COP28 was overwhelming. Here’s a list of all the major food outcomes to help you digest it all.

“Everything that makes campaigning against fossil fuels difficult is 10 times harder when it comes to opposing livestock farming.”

George Monbiot summed it up in his Guardian column yesterday. All eyes were on fossil fuels in Dubai the least couple of weeks, with countries fighting each other to decide if oil and gas are actually bad for the planet, as science has told us consistently and constantly. The resulting document was described as ‘historic’ by some, and ‘weak’ by others.

But this was supposed to be a food-focused COP, with the first dedicated agrifood day and a majority of food being meatless. And whether or not true progress was made, a lot of announcements were. We could barely keep track, but as the summit is over and there’s a moment to breathe (until the fossil fuels take over, that is), here’s a list of every major food-related development at the UN climate conference.

Food systems policy developments at COP28

• The FAO published its much-anticipated agrifood roadmap to limit warming to 1.5°C, with 120 actions recommended to meet 20 key targets. Measures include cutting livestock methane emissions by 25% by 2030 and halving food waste by 2030. It acknowledged the need to change diets to reduce meat and dairy emissions, but said that plant-based foods can’t be an adequate source of certain nutrients. Plus, only the FAO’s website (and not the report) calls on higher-income countries to cut their consumption. In fact, the report said meat production needs to be ramped up to address health challenges in poorer nations.
  
  In response, a group of organisations including ProVeg International, Mercy for Animals, Friends of the Earth, and Changing Markets Foundation – as well as Green Queen – highlighted gaps in the roadmap in a joint letter. “The roadmap falls short of highlighting the specific benefits of transitioning towards more healthy, plant-based diets, especially in regions with excessive consumption of animal-based foods,” said Stephanie Maw, policy manager at ProVeg.
  
  “I call this approach guillotine syndrome,” wrote Monbiot on the report’s suggestions to cut livestock emissions. “There might be a slight improvement in efficiency, but it’s still decapitation.” He added: “Following the report it published this week, I feel I can state with confidence that the FAO is a major cog in the meat misinformation machine.”

• The final Global Stocktake text was published, and it included mentions of food or agriculture in both the mitigation and adaptation sections. But this almost didn’t happen, with previous drafts removing any mention of food systems at all. It’s an encouraging start and gives countries something to work with, but there is a long way to go before we can be sure of a transformative outcome.
  
  A group of over 100 organisations issued a statement, and they were not impressed: “‘Food’ appeared three times, in rote recitations from the Paris Agreement. This entirely fails to capture the importance of food systems that was extensively documented in the two-year global stocktake’s technical phase meant to inform the final outcome.”

• 160 countries and territories signed the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action – encompassing more than 75% of all food-based greenhouse gas emissions and over 70% of all food consumed. This was an encouraging way to start the summit, but these commitments have to turn into action – there are plenty that haven’t!
  
  Reacting to the news, João Campari, global food practice leader at WWF, said: “This commitment keeps the hope alive, but it must urgently lead to action to protect, sustainably manage and restore landscapes, seascapes and riverscapes that are critical to sustain life on Earth – particularly those being degraded by unsustainable food systems.”

• The WWF was also one of over 150 non-state actors who signed a Call to Action for the transformation of food systems for people, nature and climate. The signatories spanned groups like farmers, Indigenous populations, businesses, civil society organisations, cities, philanthropies, and financial and research institutions – including Nestlé, Unilever, Danone, Rockefeller Foundation, CGIAR, World Farmers Organisation and NYC Mayor’s Office of Food.
  
  “Climate change poses an enormous threat to farmers and food production,” said Elizabeth Nsimadala, a Ugandan smallholder farmer and president of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation. “We need greater recognition of farmers, with a particular focus on women and youth, as equal partners in addressing this global challenge.”

• Endorsed by 143 countries, the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health highlighted the importance of food systems for climate and health, noting – in the second paragraph, no less – “the urgency of taking action on climate change” and “the benefits for health from deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions… and shifts to sustainable healthy diets.”
  
  “The climate crisis is a health crisis, but for too long, health has been a footnote in climate discussions,” said WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In a joint statement, a group of animal advocacy organisations added: “Countries must now act to support sustainable food production as well as sustainable diets – through public education, government legislation and fiscal incentives in order to deliver effective, long-term solutions”

• Negotiations around coordination and governance on the Joint Work on Agriculture and Food Security (SSJW) – a three-year-old collaborative roadmap addressing gaps in agriculture and food security – reached an impasse. Talks concluded with no progress, and the next meeting isn’t until June 2024, which is a major blow to farmers and producers.
  
  WWF’s Campari said: “An opportunity to take a big step forward on climate action has already been wasted – negotiators can’t squander another by excluding food systems transformation from the Global Stocktake. It has to be reinstated – and meaningfully.”

• The Global Goal on Adaptation also featured a mention of food and agriculture, urging countries to achieve climate-resilient food and agricultural production, supply and distribution, and increasing sustainable and regenerative agriculture and equitable access to food and nutrition. But there’s no mention of small-scale family farmers (responsible for producing a third of the world’s food).
  
  “The GGA has some nice food and agriculture elements too, including strong language on nutrition for all – a crucial goal on its own, which also happens to encompass many of the key elements of resilient and sustainable food systems,” said Avery Cohn, partner, food and agriculture at Ode Partners. Paul Newnham, executive director of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, added: “It’s encouraging to see food making it into the GST and GGA, but we need more for mitigation so that food systems transform to deliver good food for all without damaging our planet. We’ve made progress, but still have a way to go.”

• Six food giants – Bel Group, Danone, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Lactalis USA, and Nestlé – formed the Dairy Methane Action Alliance with the Environmental Defense Fund to help dairy farmers reduce methane emissions and make farming more sustainable.
  
  It’s “a step in the right direction”, but needs to be followed by clear targets,” said Changing Markets Foundation CEO Nusa Urbancic, calling the absence of dairy giants like Arla, Fonterra and Dairy Farmers of America a “big disappointment” as they’re “opting out of action on their main source of emissions”.

• The World Economic Forum launched the First Movers Coalition for Food with support from the UAE government, which aims to create a procurement commitment for low-carbon agricultural commodities with an estimated $10-20B value by 2030. It includes food giants like Bayer, Cargill, Tyson, Danone, Nestlé and PepsiCo.
  
  Manny Maceda, CEO of Bain & Company, said this will enable a shift towards planet-friendly production: “This will decrease the risks associated with required investments in low-emissions agri-food production, make it easier to expand to net-zero and nature-positive technologies, and help farmers adopt greener practices such as regenerative agriculture.”

• The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation was launched, with Brazil, Sierra Leone and Norway as co-chairs and prominent members including Rwanda and Cambodia. The goal for the “high ambition coalition for food” is to boost national visions and food systems transformation pathways consistent with science-based targets in 10 priority areas.
  
  “This vanguard group of countries, spanning the global south and north and representing a variety of food systems, is committed to a whole-of-government approach within national borders,” said Edward Davey, UK head of the World Resources Institute Europe. “Recognising that transforming food systems will look different in every country, members aim to collaborate, share lessons and knowledge, and accelerate innovation to work better for people, nature and climate.

Financial pledges for food systems at COP28

• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UAE announced a partnership to support smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Together, they pledged $200M million for innovation, much of it to be delivered to CGIAR.
• The Gates Foundation will also contribute $7.95M to a Grand Challenges Request for Proposal focused on transdisciplinary approaches to better adapt to, mitigate, or reverse the combined deleterious effects of climate change on health and agriculture.
• The Bezos Earth Fund announced $57M food-related grants as part of its $1B commitment to tackling the food system’s impact on climate and nature. It will allocate the remaining $850M by 2030.
• 25 leading philanthropies issued a joint call for a tenfold increase in funding for regenerative and agroecological transitions, and to phase out fossil-fuel–based agrochemicals in industrial agriculture.
• Norway announced NOK500 million (about $47M) in funding for adaptation, much of it directed towards smallholder farmers, agrobiodiversity and preventing food loss.
• Kenya announced two major programmes, including a $1.5B partnership with Fortescue to produce green fertilisers, and a $270M partnership between United Green and Kenya Development Corporation partner for a 15,000-hectare sustainable agriculture project. 
• The Africa and Middle East SAFE Initiative, a $10B public-private partnership between countries and Institutions from Africa and the Middle East, was officially launched. This initiative endeavors to Scale-up Agriculture and Food systems for Economic development in Africa and the Middle East. It has been facilitated by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
• CGIAR secured $890M million in funding to support smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries, reduce emissions from farming, and boost access to nutritious, healthy diets. Commitments included $136M million from the Netherlands, $132M from the UK, $100 million from the US and the World Bank each, and $51 million from Norway.
• Ghana launched Resilient Ghana with a $110M investment from partners including Canada, Singapore, the US, the UAE and the LEAF Coalition for a package of initial programmes and partnerships across four thematic areas. These include sustainable agriculture and enabling conditions that support a just transition, strengthened governance and integrated land use planning.
• The UN’s International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and partners launched a new blended financing mechanism to boost support to small-scale food producers in rural communities in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to adapt to a changing climate. The Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism will provide $200M to poor small-scale food producers and rural microenterprises, while small and medium-sized rural agribusinesses will also access concessional loans through this new scheme.
• The Green Climate Fund and AGRA launched the regional Re-Gain Programme in Africa, leveraging $100M for smallholder tech and food loss solutions to boost food security while tackling climate challenges.

While there were some promising signs, there’s still a long, long way to go – but we’re short on time. “We need to be brave in confronting livestock production and the dark arts used to promote it,” wrote Monbiot. “We simply seek to apply the same standards to this industry as we’d apply to any other. But when we raise our hands in objection, they are met with fists raised in aggression. That’s the strategy, working as intended.”

The post COP28: Every Major Food Sytems Announcement & Funding Pledge from the UN Climate Conference appeared first on Green Queen.

After a whirlwind of a couple of weeks, COP28 is finally over – with promises fulfilled and promises broken, often simultaneously. It was billed as the UN’s first food-focused climate summit, but did it live up to the hype? Here’s what food system leaders think.

This year’s COP28 was always going to be controversial, more so than the rest. It was helmed by the CEO of the host country’s national oil company, who – four days into the conference – claimed that there was “no science” indicating a fossil fuel phaseout would help us tackle the climate crisis.

It sparked a frenzy, as fossil fuels became the main talking point of the conference – so much so that COP28 had to invoke a reserve day, as leaders couldn’t come to an agreement about the language in the Global Stocktake (GST). And when they finally did, it was deemed historic, but far from enough.

And that has been the case for food systems too. COP28 was touted to be the first food-focused conference of its kind, with a dedicated food and agriculture day, two-thirds of meatless food, and an FAO roadmap to keeping post-industrial temperature rises under 1.5°C.

Before the conference, it was reported that this plan by the FAO would encourage a reduction in meat consumption in richer countries, as well as a better livestock output in developing nations. The latter was part of the final text. The former? Not so much. There was a hint, but nothing explicit – and even if it were more direct, it wouldn’t have been good enough, given how crucial food system change is to the climate crisis.

Of course, there were some positives: the fact that food was even given a spotlight demonstrates progress. One of the biggest headlines was for the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, signed by 134 countries. And 143 nations signed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health (which highlighted the importance of agrifood in this context. Meanwhile, over 150 non-state actors signed a Call to Action for food systems transformation, while both private and public sectors pledged billions for more sustainable, nutritious and equitable food systems.

What do the stakeholders – the insiders at the heart of negotiations and leaders working to create change across global food systems – think about the outcome of COP28? We asked a range of food system players, including non-profit leaders, sustainability experts, think tanks and alternative protein founders, for their reactions. Here’s what they said:

Oliver Camp, senior associate, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), maximising positive impact for both nutrition and the environment

Progress at COP28 was necessary, but not sufficient. The Emirates Declaration and the Declaration on Climate and Health represent a major success for the food systems community, but the official negotiations could have gone much further in positioning food systems at the heart of the solution to the challenges we face.

Nonetheless, taken as a whole, this represents a strong platform to build upon as we continue in our mission to ensure that everyone has access to a nutritious and safe diet from an environmentally sustainable food system.

Andrew Jarvis, future food director, Bezos Earth Fund, backing climate and nature projects via philanthropic grants

COP28 was a landmark moment for food and climate. For the first time, food was in the midst of the agenda, and having 158 nations (and counting) sign the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, and having an ambitious call-to-action for non-state actors signed by so many important organisations, was unprecedented. The volume and vibrance of dialogue amongst food system actors was a highlight for me, with controversial topics being openly debated. We need this to continue, unabated.

Unfortunately, what happened outside of the negotiations was light years ahead of what was discussed inside negotiations. The Sharm dialogue on agriculture stalled, and the GST gave only a cursory nod to food systems. For those of us working in food systems, this is just the start – we must deliver the commitments made in the declaration and calls to action. Implement, implement, implement.

Mirte Gosker, managing director, The Good Food Institute APAC, advocating for alternative proteins across the food system

COP28 was a mixed bag. I loved the energy of being together with like-minded people from all corners of the world, working collaboratively towards a more sustainable future. But then again, not all agendas were aligned, and I wonder whether the ‘circus’ that COP turned into had any influence at all on the negotiations. If not, the question is: do we need it?

If we were to bring in only the top voices – the absolute experts on every topic – and give them the opportunity to make their case to the negotiators, we could save a lot on carbon emissions and might be more effective in reaching our goals. But I realise that approach would diminish the plurality of voices, which is also the beauty of COP.

The ‘circus’ also allows for building stronger bonds and cross-topic connections, reflecting on new angles and ideas, and forging new collaborations. I’m very happy to see that the food systems were given more attention this year, and I foresee that they will play a leading role in years to come. I’m grateful for people of influence, like UAE climate minister Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Singapore’s minister of sustainability and the environment, Grace Fu, and Dutch MP Rob Jetten, addressing the need for more sustainable food systems and acknowledging alternative proteins as an important climate solution.

The launch of the UNEP What’s Cooking report was also very promising. Overall, I’m confident that we’re moving in the right direction, but I’m also cognizant that we’re running out of time. Change needs to come faster. And we might need to rethink whether the current way COP is organised is the best way forward.

Irina Gerry, CMO & CCO, Change Foods, making dairy proteins using precision fermentation

COP28 was a whirlwind filled with panels and presentations, side events, evening receptions and dinners with food innovators. 100,000 attendees buzzing about made it feel like the world’s largest climate pageant. On one hand, it filled me with hope, that so many people showed up to participate in events, conversations and negotiations. On the other, I’m not sure much tangible climate action will come from it, especially on food.

To be honest, it feels a bit hollow. Yes, there was a big declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, putting “food on the table” in climate conversation, but it stopped short of specific actions or policies. There is broad agreement that the world needs healthy and sustainable diets, and that food systems matter a great deal for climate, but little detail on how to get there. I’m still reading all the different reports and digests, but I know climate action can’t wait.

We can’t wait for policymakers and politicians to come to an agreement. We must focus on action and impact, whether as individuals or through our businesses and organizations. The future we want won’t make itself. So, as we reflect on the state of climate and the world post COP, let’s think about what we can do and get doing.

Lee Recht, VP of sustainability, Aleph Farms, producing cultivated meat in Israel and beyond

I know that COP is criticised by many and, to some extent, rightfully so, but you can’t deny the magic that happens right outside of the negotiations. Hundreds of dedicated experts are pushing for a holistic and inclusive agrifood systems transformation.

For years, the agrifood systems have been fighting to be at the table at COP28, being responsible for a third of the global GHGs. This year, there were notable achievements. Not only did we witness a government declaration that over 130 countries signed on to, but we were also recognised at the GST level.

So, yes, the work ahead of us is tremendous, but I choose to remain optimistic and focused on the doing. Aleph Farms and the Global Cellular Agriculture Alliance aim to complement sustainable animal agriculture, and we are actively advocating for climate action, resiliency in our food systems and strengthing food security through protein diversification.

Elysabeth Alfano, CEO & co-founder, VegTech Invest, investing in public companies innovating with plants

For me, COP28 was an overwhelming success. At COP27, I could barely get anyone to engage in side conversations around food systems transformation based on the key pillar of protein diversification. Fast forward one year and a food system shift was not only a central part of scheduled panel discussions but how to financially execute that transformation was a part of many panels every day – not just on the food and agriculture day. Only two of my panels were in food pavilions. One was in a business pavilion, and one was in a climate research pavilion. This, I believe, illustrates the broad interest in and understanding of food as a lever for change.

Currently, only 2%-4.8% of climate finance goes to food systems, but food systems are 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions, and animal agriculture is 60% of that. Financing food fast to have meaningful reductions in GHG emissions, as well as reductions in deforestation, biodiversity loss and food insecurity, was at the heart of the majority of panels I attended and the four panels in which I participated.

Blended capital was the buzz phrase in my meetings. It calls on governments, philanthropists, and finally, private capital from Wall Street to work together to address the inefficiency of our current food system.  For me, this has always been the only strategy that I see working and I am happy to see that many are unifying around this same approach that we have had for the last two years at VegTech Invest.

Like everyone, I am deeply encouraged that 154 countries to date have signed on to the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action. However, I am more excited by the UNEP What’s Cooking paper and video that leaves no doubt about the math of animal agriculture and its destruction for people, planet, and of course, animals.

If I had a complaint, it would be that countries are understandably fearful of change and, thus, many are still not looking at food as a full systems shift based on the math of utilising our natural resources in a way that feeds everyone on the planet without frying it. Protectionists are still viewing the issue through the lens of how to keep the status quo rather than how to smartly manage the only planet we have for the benefit of all its inhabitants.

However, this is to be expected. A shift of this magnitude doesn’t happen overnight. Thus, for me, it is impossible not to feel positive about the progress made at COP28.

Robert E Jones, VP of Mosa Meat and co-founder of the Global Cellular Agriculture Alliance, cultivated meat advocate

“The outcomes from COP28 are no doubt mixed. However, food and agriculture did take a positive step forward. Food systems are finally on the menu at COP, but now countries need to get specific about how they will pay the check. If we are to avoid the worst-case scenarios of the climate crisis, protein diversification needs to be one of the pillars of both resilience and mitigation strategies, especially in the global north. As a united industry, this is the message we delivered in Dubai through hundreds of conversations with ministers, NGOs, farmers, adjacent industry leaders, negotiators, and investors.”

Stephanie Maw, Policy Manager, ProVeg International, advocating for sustainable global food system change

COP28 undoubtedly shone a spotlight on the role of sustainable food systems in tackling the global climate, nature and health crises. The Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Action launched on Day 1 and now endorsed by over 150 countries, followed by the Declaration on Climate and Health, which explicitly highlights the health benefits of dietary shifts, sent a strong signal. At the same time, we need to critically examine whether governments are indeed putting these pledges into action when it comes to implementing new policies through the formal negotiations. 

I closely engaged in the UNFCCC agriculture and food security negotiations, officially titled the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security (SSJW), and  advocated for countries to adopt a food-systems approach in order to include consumption-side measures, such as tackling the overconsumption of animal products in developed countries. Frustratingly, entrenched positions and logistical questions meant Parties did not reach consensus. When Parties reconvene at the climate conference in Bonn next June, we will be pressing them to urgently deliver meaningful progress on food systems change. 

COP28 was also a critical moment for countries to ramp up action and ambition to keep to the Paris Agreement global warming limits. Yet, at times the text drafted by Parties under the Global Stocktake (GST) made no mention of agriculture and food systems. Following huge mobilisation efforts across NGOs like ProVeg and other non-state actors on the ground, “food systems” were finally referenced for the first time in a decision under the Paris Agreement, providing a strong basis for future consideration of diets in climate action.

And let’s not forget that this was the first COP ever where two-thirds of the food served were vegan and vegetarian, thanks to months of engagement with the COP28 Presidency by NGOs, supported by ProVeg. This meant delegates got a real taste of what climate action can look like. While the road ahead is still long, I’m excited to continue to engage with governments, negotiators and policymakers to step up to the plate and fully leverage the transformative potential of diets and food systems for people, animals and the planet.

Ethan Soloviev, chief innovation officer, HowGood, advancing carbon and eco-labelling transparency

Food and agriculture systems took a significant leap forward during COP28 in Dubai – including the first-ever mention of “regenerative” food and agriculture in a high-profile international agreement. Although the negotiations missed a real opportunity to highlight food as a nature-based solution for mitigating the climate crisis, the inclusion of food in the adaptation section bodes well for further advances toward healthy, nutritious and regenerative food systems in upcoming work on the global goal for adaptation.

Tasneem Karodia, co-founder and COO, Newform Foods, developing cultivated meat in South Africa

As a first-time COP attendee, I didn’t know what to expect from the event. It was an overwhelming experience with so much to do and see. It was great to see the focus on food – it helped narrow down the focus and bring a concentration of food leaders across the value chain into the same room. I think there is great progress in bringing food to the fore, with the aim of breaking down the silos usually formed.

The difficulty is how we move this to action and continue collaboration. On a personal note, I have made connections with people I have only seen from a screen and it has helped bridge the gap on what we’re doing in the south and how this could be applicable in the north and vice versa. I look forward to seeing how these conversations progress to action.

Paul Newnham, executive director, SDG2 Advocacy Hub, drove drive global campaigning and advocacy strategy to promote food security

I leave COP28 feeling exhausted after a massive year and a big fortnight but encouraged to see food systems rise on the agenda. With 160 leaders signing the declaration on agriculture and food systems and many new initiatives and funds committed, it gives me hope. We have a lot to do to build on this work and turn it into more urgent country-level progress but it was a start. With practical teeth and commitment to CGIAR, IFAD and many others.

As negotiations come to an end, it’s encouraging to see food making it into the GST and GGA, but we need more for mitigation so that food systems transform to deliver good food for all without damaging our planet. We’ve made progress, but still have a way to go.

Avery Cohn, partner, food and agriculture at Ode Partners, using data and design to address climate and conservation issues

The headlines are likely to rightfully key in on the landmark progress on fossil fuels at COP28 and the finance that we’ll now need to mobilise for this. But this summit’s progress on food systems wound up being its second most important outcome, in my view.

Food employs three billion, causes a third of all emissions, and is the locus of some of the worst risks from our changing climate. Paris’s mitigation and adaptation goals will be totally out of reach without food. Yet although there have been some bright spots, the sector has traditionally suffered from challenging politics and badly lagged on ambition. So, even many of us who have long helped push for the COP28 UAE Food Declaration were surprised by food’s progress in Dubai.

We closed the summit with 159 countries endorsing a new vision and agenda on food systems and climate. Declarations are non-binding, but the GST and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) decisions have a distributed array of ingredients that together closely align with the Declaration on Food.

For example, in the mitigation section of the GST, you’ll find references to key food-sensitive issues like non-CO2 gas (including both methane and nitrous oxide), the Global Biodiversity Framework, innovation to reduce unit costs, poverty eradication, sustainable lifestyles, economy-wide absolute GHG reduction targets, and aligning nationally determined contributions with low GHG development strategies. The adaptation section contains a reference to resilient food systems, as well as many promising practices.

Meanwhile, the GGA has some nice food and agriculture elements too, including strong language on nutrition for all – a crucial goal on its own, which also happens to encompass many of the key elements of resilient and sustainable food systems.

The sum of everything food-sensitive in the GGA+GST is similar to the COP28 Food Declaration. Each is stronger in some ways, weaker in others. Taken together, I think we’ve now got a rapidly emerging high-ambition agenda on food systems and climate that breaks down the siloes between development, nature, adaptation, mitigation, and nutrition, and provides a resounding mandate to lean in. We’ll now need to turn to implementation and resource mobilisation. It’s time to take the win and get to work.

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Welcome to Day 13 of #COP28, the unintended last day. In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6 – DAY 7 – REST DAY – DAY 8 – DAY 9 – DAY 10 – DAY 11 – DAY 12

Folks we hope you have enjoyed our daily coverage – this is the last edition of the Digest as the United Nations has officially called time on COP28 with this statement: “The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) closed today with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just and equitable transition, underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance.

Headlines You Need To Know

GST – NATIONS AGREE TO MOVE AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS: After negotiations went into overdraft and an extra day was needed to come to conclusions on the Global Stocktake (GST) text, leaders from nearly 200 countries finally came to a historic (if somewhat different than what was hoped for) agreement to transition away from fossil fuels at COP28.

While no mentions of a ‘phaseout’ were in sight, the GST urges countries to begin shifting from these fuels this decade and triple renewable energy sources by 2030, with a net-zero goal for 2050. It was hailed as “the beginning of the end of fossil fuels”, the first time the text mentions fossil fuels in COP’s near-30 year history.

Still, it was a huge compromise for everyone, and not all countries were happy. Plus, there’s no direct mention of any transition from meat and dairy production, despite a UN report extolling the benefits of alternative proteins last Friday. The text only mentions “attaining climate-resilient food and agricultural production and supply and distribution of food, as well as increasing sustainable and regenerative production and equitable access to adequate food and nutrition for all.”

Final Day Reactions

Anne Rasmussen, a Samoan delegate speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States, highlighted the coalition’s displeasure, explaining that “we are a little confused about what just happened” and that they weren’t in the room when the decision was made. “This process has failed us,” she added.

Similarly, Madeleine Diouf Sarr, chair of the 47-nation-strong Least Developed Countries Group, said the GST outcome reflected the “very lowest possible ambition that we could accept rather than what we know”, with the text recognising the importance of climate change adaptation finance, but failing to “deliver a credible response to this challenge”. “Limiting warming to 1.5C is a matter of survival, and international cooperation remains key to ensuring it,” he said.

The delegate for the Vatican – speaking on behalf of the pope, who couldn’t attend after contracting bronchitis – expressed concern about the future generations as the response wasn’t fully aligned with the science. “It is important to give hope and secure a liveable common home for our children,” he said, concluding by quoting the pope: “What would induce anyone at this stage to hold on to power, only to be remembered for their inability to take action when they were able to do so?”

“The Earth is down, but not out.” This was the verdict of Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, climate and energy lead at the WWF and the president of COP20. He acknowledged that countries fell short of an agreement to phase out fossil fuels, but that the decision to transition away was key. “This outcome signals the beginning of the end for the fossil fuel era,” he said. “It is vital that countries work now to transform their energy systems and replace polluting fossil fuels with clean and cheaper renewable energy, such as wind and solar, at an unprecedented speed and scale.”

Former US vice-president Al Gore, who earlier said the conference was “on the verge of complete failure”, called the final decision an important milestone, but the “bare minimum”. “The influence of petrostates is still evident in the half measures and loopholes included in the final agreement,” he tweeted. “Whether this is a turning point that truly marks the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era depends on the actions that come next and the mobilization of finance required to achieve them.”

Ani Dasgupta, president of the World Resources Institute, called it a “historic outcome”, but added that mobilising climate finance for energy transition is now “a critical test”: “The climate summit in Azerbaijan next year must be one for the history books when the world finally shifts the scale of climate finance from billions to trillions.”

Anna Lerner Nesbitt, CEO of Climate Collective, wrote a list of the good and the bad from the final GST text. The good included a mention of transitioning away from fossil fuels and a specific 2050 deadline, while the bad entailed the exclusion of any phaseouts as well as weaker recommendations.

Writing for The Wire, Arun Kumar outlines how COP28 has once again safeguarded the interests of the rich: “The political will to take the drastic steps required is missing. The time for taking incremental steps is over. The fear that cutting consumption and production will reduce welfare for the elite and reduce employment is unfounded because these can be achieved by cutting social waste and inessential consumption.”

Nicholas Davies, associate sustainability and social value director at UK strategy consultants Lexington, shed light on the fashion industry. “As the COP28 closes, the fashion industry stands at a crossroads,” she wrote on LinkedIn. “To drive positive change at pace, industry transition plans must succeed. For that to happen policymakers must also take action. What’s clear is that ‘business-as-usual’ no longer fits.”

Andrew Deutz, managing director for global policy and conservation finance at The Nature Conservancy, called the GST text a “meaningful milestone on the path to a cleaner, fairer world” delivered at the 11th hour. He stressed the importance of not just reducing the supply of fossil fuels, but the demand as well. “With the Global Stocktake done, the next step of the Paris Agreement ‘ratchet mechanism’ is for countries to develop more ambitious national climate plans and policies by the 2025 deadline,” he said.

Other tidbits

Public-private sector collaboration to unlock climate finance: A new climate finance report by the World Economic Forum outlines the priorities for action and demonstrates how organisations from the philanthropy, private and public sectors can team up for a positive domino effect.

‘Vegan nazis’ out to kill humanity: Plant Based News co-founder Klaus Mitchell interviewed a pro-regenerative meat rancher Hunter Lovins, who went on frankly what is best described as a tirade against plant-based lifestyles, comparing vegans to Nazis who are out to kill humanity, and adding that we need to be eating more meat.

12-year-old Indian activist storms COP28: A plenary session was interrupted by 12-year-old climate activist Licypriya Kangujam, dubbed India’s Greta Thunberg, who held up a sign calling for an end to fossil fuels. While COP28 director-general Majid Al-Suwaidi called for a round of applause for her enthusiasm, she was detained and then kicked out of the conference.

A visual look at emissions: The Decarbonization Channel has produced a striking graphic showcasing how global carbon emissions have grown sixfold since 1950, and who is to blame for that.

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

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Welcome to Day 12 of #COP28, the final day! In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6 – DAY 7 – REST DAY – DAY 8 – DAY 9 – DAY 10 – DAY 11

Headlines You Need To Know

The COP-related news you cannot miss.

UPDATE ON GLOBAL STOCKTAKE AND GLOBAL GOAL ON ADAPTATION (GGA): We are still waiting for the final text on both GGA and GST, and last-minute negotiations are still in progress. As of publishing time, 158 nations have signed the GST draft including Russia and Turkey.

CLIMATE DENIERS AT CLIMATE SUMMIT: Transparency watchdog Corporate Accountability has revealed that over 160 representatives who have records of climate denial and misinformation received access from UN organisers to COP28. These trade groups, think tanks and PR agencies have obstructed fossil fuel regulations as well as other climate action.

UAE CLIMATE MINISTER CHAMPIONS ALT-PROTEIN: COP28 food systems lead Mariam Almheiri has acknowledged the importance of protein diversification to feed a hungrier and growing planet, championing food tech and alternative proteins in a panel discussion. “We need to look at a lot of the alternatives as well; alternatives that are more sustainable that don’t need so much water, that don’t need so much land and that don’t throw out any methane emissions, and that’s why things like alternative proteins are very important,” she said.

EX-US VP SAYS COP28 ON THE VERGE OF ‘COMPLETE FAILURE’: Al Gore, the former vice-president of the US, tweeted late last night that the conference is on the verge of “complete failure” after the Global Stocktake draft saw any mention of a ‘phaseout’ removed yesterday, which has sparked tremendous backlash. “It is even worse than many had feared. It is “Of the Petrostates, By the Petrostates and For the Petrostates’,” wrote Gore.

US, UK, AUSTRALIA AMONG COUNTRIES THAT WON’T SIGN ‘DEATH CERTIFICATE’ FOR ISLAND NATIONS: The US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan have formed an umbrella group of countries that refuse to sign the version of the Global Stocktake, which is a “death certificate” for small island countries as described by Cedric Schuster of Samoa, chair of the Alliance of Small Island States. The EU has also said elements of the document are “fully unacceptable” and threatened a walkout if things don’t change.

UK MINISTER LEAVES SUMMIT HALFWAY DURING CRISIS TALKS: The UK climate minister Graham Stuart returned home midway as talks reached a crisis point, leaving civil servants to finalise the negotiations. Speaking to the Guardian, Greenpeace’s Rebecca Newsom called it “an outrageous dereliction of leadership at the most critical point during this conference”.

TAIWAN WILLING TO DONATE TO DISASTER FUND: Taiwan, which has been blocked from participation at COP28 but is amongst the highest per capita GHG emitters, has indicated that it’s willing to contribute to the loss and damage fund if it is included in the conversations.

WTO CHIEF CALLS ON LEADERS TO PRIORITISE CLIMATE SUBSIDIES: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization, told the Guardian that governments need to start differentiating between the good subsidies that help fight the climate crisis, and bad ones that emit more greenhouse gases.

BRAZILIAN MEAT GIANT CALLED OUT FOR GREENWASHING: JBS, the world’s largest meat producer and one of the biggest food system GHG emitters, is being criticised by a coalition group called Ban the Batistas for its attempts to greenwash consumers and present itself as eco-conscious and ethical at COP28.

PETA HANDS OUT SYMBOLIC VEGAN DOUGHNUT TO GERMAN MINISTER: A week after distributing free vegan doughnuts in New York City, PETA handed some out to Geman Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck in a symbolic gesture to promote Plant Based Treaty’s vegan doughnut economics paper.

Key #COP28 Reports

The food and climate reports you need to know about today.

Food security, climate change and sustainability in Africa: A new report by the WWF, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, IFPRI/CGIAR and AfDB touches upon the environmental implications of food system development in Africa, helping nations achieve food security and implement climate and nature commitments.

10,000 deaths due to climate change: The UK Health Security Agency has published its first Health Effects of Climate Change report, estimating that there will be up to 10,000 deaths across the country by the 2050s as a result of extreme heat, with a 12-fold increase in such deaths likely (from current rates) by the 2070s. Additionally, such temperatures will make for suitable conditions for new domestic mosquitoes, leading to transmittable diseases like chikungunya, dengue and Zika virus.

Awesome Resources From Media Friends

A curation of our favourite reads of the day – excellent guides, explainers and op-eds from around the web.

Good COP, Bad COP: Climate site CTVC has released a fantastically detailed list of takeaways from the climate summit, rounded up with a packed roundup of news.

Everything nuclear: CTVC also has an overview of all things nuclear and clean power from the conference, which is a very handy guide if all the news has drained you of energy (pun absolutely intended).

12 High-Impact Partnerships: The World Economic Forum has helpfully shared an overview of 12 High-Impact Business, Government and Civil Society Partnerships for Climate and Nature that were announced/signed during the summit around decarbonization & the energy transition, nature & biodiversity, health, adaptation & food systems, and climate financing & trade.

The future of livestock: Sharing takeaways from his COP28 experience, Michael Victor for New Food Magazine writes about the importance of nuance and geographically specific policy when it comes to animal agriculture.

Lighter Green Fun

Funny stuff, weird stuff, random stuff related to COP you may enjoy.

Cooking up a habitable planet: If you’re looking for some food (for thought) inspo, the Straits Times has come up with a tongue-in-cheek recipe for a habitable planet. Set your oven to 1.5°C and add in that climate finance sauce. Serves 8.1 billion.

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

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Welcome to Day 10 of #COP28 – the first ever official day dedicated to food systems in the history of the summit. In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6 – DAY 7 – REST DAY – DAY 8 – DAY 9

Headlines You Need To Know

The COP-related news you cannot miss.

AZERBAIJAN CONFIRMED AS COP29 HOST: After a period of uncertainty, Azerbaijan has emerged as the winner of the host bid for COP29 next year, with Armenia retracting its bid and agreeing to back its rival nation. But climate activists are likely to criticise the fact that another ‘petro-state’ country will once again host the UN climate summit.

152 COUNTRIES BACK THE COP28 AGRIFOOD DECLARATION: A week after 134 countries signed the UAE Declaration on Agriculture, Food Systems and Climate Action, that number has risen to 152, announced UAE climate minister and COP28 food systems lead Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri.

CHINA BACKS RENEWABLE ENERGY, BUT REMAINS COY ON FOSSIL FUEL PHASEOUT: China’s climate envoy Xie Zhenhua has said the country would like to see nations agree to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy but hasn’t confirmed whether the nation would support or oppose a fossil fuel phaseout entirely.

SAUDI ARABIA TAKES AIM AT WIND & SOLAR ENERGY: Fossil fuel giant Saudi Arabia is calling on countries to take action against wind and solar power, which it claims are increasingly threatening the climate due to their ‘life-cycle’ GHG emissions. It’s also one of the countries blocking the recommendation for a full fossil fuel phaseout.

‘HIGH-AMBITION’ FOOD COALITION FOUNDED: The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation has been launched, with Brazil, Sierra Leone and Norway as co-chairs and prominent members including Rwanda and Cambodia. The goal for the “high ambition coalition for food” is to boost national visions and food systems transformation pathways consistent with science-based targets in 10 priority areas.

COP28 RELEASES STATEMENT ON CLIMATE, NATURE & PEOPLE: The COP28 and UNCBD COP15 presidencies have released a Joint Statement on Climate, Nature & People to align climate action to deliver the highest impact in as short a time as possible. Objectives include scaling up climate finance, equitable representation, and coherence in data collection and voluntary reporting frameworks.

NATURE FINANCE HUB LAUNCHED TO MOBILISE $100B IN CLIMATE FINANCING: The Asian Development Bank, the OPEC Fund, Agence Française de Développement, and the Saudi Fund for Development have launched the Nature Finance Hub to mobilise $1B from development partners, and an additional $2 B in private capital by 2030 for nature-centric climate projects.

$100M INITIATIVE AIMS TO PROTECT LAND & MARINE AREAS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Papua New Guinea has announced a $100M initiative with public and private sector partners to protect 30% of its land and marine areas, halt forest loss and promote sustainable development and inclusive rural transformation by 2030.

Key #COP28 Reports

The food and climate reports you need to know about today.

FAO publishes agrifood roadmap to 1.5°C: The FAO has published the much-awaited first instalment of its hugely anticipated roadmap to cut food and agriculture emissions, with 120 actions recommended to meet 20 key targets – albeit with little detail on how they will be achieved. Measures include cutting livestock methane emissions by 25% by 2030 and halving food waste by 2030. It acknowledged the need to change diets to reduce meat and dairy emissions but said that plant-based foods can’t be an adequate source of certain nutrients. Plus, only the FAO’s website (and not the report) calls on higher-income countries to cut their consumption. In fact, the report says meat production needs to be ramped up to address health challenges in poorer nations.

Brazilian meat giants linked to widespread Amazon deforestation: Three Brazilian meat producers – JBS, Marfrig and Minerva – have been connected to over half a million hectares of deforestation in the Amazon in a new report by Mighty Earth. The farms where land was felled supply to 36 slaughterhouses belonging to these companies, and the total area is 156 times the size of COP28 host Dubai.

Africa needs a new livestock narrative: The result of a collaborative effort between multiple organizations, a new report outlines a new livestock narrative for Africa, arguing that existing perspectives fail to recognise the role of livestock in the continent’s livelihood, nutrition and capacity for climate change adaptation.

Migration as climate change adaptation: The FAO published a study exploring migration as an adaptation measure for climate change in the Near East and North Africa, highlighting how farmers are forced to relocate due to climate events and crop productivity issues. Growth-centric economic and farming policies further undermine sustainable resource management and facilitate maladaptive practices.

Food access for migrant workers in the Gulf: Middle Eastern investigative journalists and Fairsquare have penned a report outlining the disparities in access to quality, nutritious food for migrant workers in the UAE. It also assesses the wider impact of the country’s food supply chain practices on the climate, as well as vulnerable populations globally.

Recommendations for COP28 investment and innovation: The Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture has made a seven-point case for innovation and investment at COP28, covering improved weather forecasts, rainwater harvesting training, microbial fertilisers, cutting livestock methane emissions, digital agriculture, climate-resilient social protection, and alt-protein.

Awesome Resources From Media Friends

A curation of our favourite reads of the day – excellent guides, explainers and op-eds from around the web.

Much-needed climate finance rolling in: Writing for Bloomberg, Agnieszka de Sousa outlines that the badly needed money for food-related climate solutions is starting to trickle in, with billions secured in pledges at COP28.

All talk, no action: Arguing for the contrary, RTE’s George Lee writes that there’s plenty of talk at COP28, but nobody seems to want to actually pay – summing up the rollercoaster of a summit this has been.

Around the world to save the country: In a story that’s equal parts hopeful and terrifying, BBC climate reporter Georgina Rannard profiles Mervina Paueli, a negotiator from Tuvalu who has travelled 8,000 miles to save her home country at COP28.

Lighter Green Fun

Funny stuff, weird stuff, random stuff related to COP you may enjoy.

SMOG28: Pretty ironic that people at a climate summit can’t breathe because of the air pollution. Axios reporters have been feeling like their lungs are on fire due to the smog in Dubai, which is not great, to say the least. Looks like it’s not just the alternative protein industry’s opinion that’s suffocating.

Green Mr COP: A 10-year-old boy from Abu Dhabi has transformed his old toy car into a robot traversing Dubai’s Expo City as a green crusader named ‘Mr Cop’. This is exactly the generation we need to save the planet for.

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

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Welcome to Day 9 of #COP28. In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6 – DAY 7 – REST DAY – DAY 8

Headlines You Need To Know

The COP-related news you cannot miss.

BIG MEAT AND DAIRY SHOW UP IN RECORD NUMBERS: At the first food-focused COP, you just knew there’ll be Big Ag hoping to influence proceedings. The food and agriculture industry has sent three times as many delegates as last year’s summit, with meat and dairy represented by 120 and the number of agribusiness lobbyists doubling from COP27 to 340.

DUBAI ANNOUNCES PLAN TO CUT EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030: COP28 host Dubai has revealed that it plans to slash its carbon emissions by 50% by the end of the decade, which will help accelerate its clean energy transition plans and 2050 net-zero goal.

THOUSANDS TO JOIN CLIMATE JUSTICE PROTESTS IN 53 COUNTRIES: Today is the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, which will be marked by demonstrations across the world – in 300 cities and 53 counties – to demand climate justice from all governments, but especially the wealthiest nations in the Global North.

INITIATIVE TO INCREASE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN CLIMATE LAUNCHED: An International Youth Climate Program has been announced to increase youth participation in COP. Plus, the Youth Climate Champion, which amplifies the voices of under-35s with an emphasis on those from vulnerable communities, Indigenous populations or those with disabilities, was also introduced.

INDIGENOUS SCHEME TO INCREASE DIRECT ACCESS TO FINANCE: COP28 saw the launch of the Podong Indigenous Peoples Initiative, co-designed and -led by the IUCN, its Indigenous Peoples Organisations, and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. This aims to mobilise $200M in funding and improve direct access to climate finance for Indigenous communities around the world, who make up 6% of the global population.

60 COUNTRIES ENDORSE GENDER-RESPONSIVE CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP: Since 80% of the people displaced by the climate crisis are women, 60 countries have endorsed a Gender-Responsive Just Transitions & Climate Action Partnership, which seeks to enhance gender and climate data and ensure that it’s used in decision-making by leaders.

Key #COP28 Reports

The food and climate reports you need to know about today.

• NYT, Reuters, Bloomberg top fossil fuel enablers in media: An investigation by DeSmog and Drilled has revealed that the in-house ad agencies of leading trusted media houses – the New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg, Reuters, Bloomberg, The Economist, the Financial Times and the Washington Post – have been producing and promoting content for fossil fuel companies. (News website Semafor has also been criticised previously for taking money from Chevron.)
• Meat climate neutrality claims too good to be true: The push for GWP* is under the spotlight and has received criticism for being a tool the meat industry can use to greenwash consumers, and a new report delves deeper to tackle the question: are climate neutrality claims in the livestock sector too good to be true? The answer is yes.
• Developing a farmer-centric, outcomes-based framework: Regen10 has published the first draft of its outcomes-based framework for a regenerative food system, representing a holistic and inclusive approach to measuring progress towards regenerative food systems, while improving farmers’ livelihoods, benefitting the climate, and reducing emissions.
• Analysing the untapped potential of public climate flows: New analysis into public climate finance flows – titled ‘Untapped Potential’ and representing over 35 million family farmers across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific – reveals that only a tiny amount of money spent on these farmers and sustainable agriculture.
• Studies that show eating meat is bad for the climate: This is a subject covered by studies time and again – so it’s awesome to have a resource where you can view some of the biggest studies showing the impact of meat and dairy on the planet. Sentient Media has curated a great list for this very purpose.
• Common principles to promote eco-positive finance: The European Investment Bank and other multilateral development banks (MDBs) have published common principles to identify, track and increase climate-friendly finance by by mainstreaming nature in MDB operations and finances systematically.

Awesome Resources From Media Friends

A curation of our favourite reads of the day – excellent guides, explainers and op-eds from around the web.

Has the media just given up?: Writing for The Lever, Adam H Johnson questions whether news outlets have just stopped pretending to even care about the climate crisis, with a focus on how Donald Trump’s climate denial is being at best downplayed and at worse, straight-up ignored.

Who needs COP?: Do we need COP to solve climate change, or does tech have us covered? Head to the Financial Times for the neo-liberal capitalist view on tackling the crisis.

True presidential colours: In a piece titled “Once Again, Al Jaber Tells The World Exactly Who He Is”, climate accountability news outlet Drilled story suggests the oil boss has always been clear about where his real motivations lie.

Why do COPs suck?: Environmental journalist George Monbiot appeared on the BBC’s Question Time programme and laid into the UN’s annual climate summits, explaining how 25 of them have been “total failures” and two “partial successes”. Strap in for a riveting two minutes and 11 seconds.

A farce rigged to fail: In fact, Monbiot’s BBC cameo came a day before he laid into COP28 with some choice words, while offering other ways we can try and save the planet.

Lighter Green Fun

Funny stuff, weird stuff, random stuff related to COP you may enjoy.

Using AI to track the summit: The use of AI is expanding at COP28. Due to the sheer volume of content and information, experts have curated an AI-led COP Tracker to search through published documents, access original publications and generate bespoke summaries.

Free doughnuts!: In support of the Plant Based Treaty’s vegan doughnut economics, PETA gave away free plant-based doughnuts to the Manhattan public on Friday to spread the message.

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

The post COP28 Daily Digest: Everything You Need To Know in Food and Climate News – Day 9 appeared first on Green Queen.

Welcome to Day 8* of #COP28. In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6 – DAY 7 – REST DAY

Headlines You Need To Know

The COP-related news you cannot miss.

FOSSIL FUEL TALKS SET TO INTENSIFY: Following a day of much-needed rest, negotiations on greenhouse-gas-cutting measures are set to reach a new level of intensity as counties debate whether or not to phase out fossil fuels, with ministers holding a series of talks to break an impasse and come up with a roadmap to 1.5°C.

EX-UN CLIMATE CHIEF CALLS FOR FOSSIL FUEL PHASEOUT: Christiana Figueres, the UN’s climate chief during the 2015 Paris Agreement, has backed a complete fossil fuel phaseout. “If we want a step forward in this Cop, then we cannot compromise on phase out. It sends a political signal that has ramifications for companies that need to decide where they’re going to put their [investment],” she said.

CANADA MANDATES FOSSIL FUEL FIRMS TO CUT EMISSIONS BY 35% BY 2030: Justin Trudeau’s government has announced that fossil fuel companies will be required to cut their emisions by 35-38% by 2030 (from a 2019 baseline). The policy is part of Canada’s 2050 net-zero plan and sets a limit on emissions – companies that don’t meet this target trade emissions allowances with other firms.

PUTIN NEGOTIATES OIL DEALS IN ABU DHABI AS COP28 CONTINUES IN DUBAI: Russian president Vladimir Putin is adding fossil fuel to the fire at the UN climate summit, landing discreetly in the capital city of Abu Dhabi – about 150km away from Dubai – to negotiate oil export deals with the UAE, in a two-part trip that will take him to Saudi Arabia next. The timing is… curious.

US URGED TO ABANDON SUPPORT FOR LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS: Over 250 global organisations have published a letter calling on the US to stop permitting new facilities dedicated to liquefied natural gas, which is set to grow exponentially in the coming years, as well as withdraw financial and diplomatic support for the same. The US is the world’s largest exporter of the gas, and its numbers are set to double by 2027.

AUSTRALIA COMMITS AU$150M IN CLIMATE FINANCE: Australia has committed AU$150M ($100M) in climate finance – mainly for Pacific countries. But none of this will go to the new loss and damage fund. Instead, AU$100M will go to the Pacific Resilience Facility, a trust fund investing in small-scale climate and disaster resilience projects, and AU$50M is set aside for the Green Climate Fund.

AZERBAIJAN POISED TO BE COP29 HOST: There has been uncertainty over the host of next year’s climate conference, which rules state needs to be held in eastern Europe. Now, Azerbaijan appears to be the frontrunner, after striking a deal with Armenia to ensure the latter won’t veto the bid.

CALLS FOR PRIVATE SECTOR TRANSPARENCY AT FUTURE COPS: This year’s climate summit has welcomed an unprecedented number of private sector players, but have all of them disclosed their scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions? Industry leaders are being called upon to sign a pledge of transparency for emissions measurement and reporting at COP29, and target disclosures at COP30.

100 GLOBAL NATIVE GROUPS CALL FOR CLEAN ENERGY RIGHTS PROTECTION: In an open letter, 100 Native groups and allies have urged COP28 negotiators to protect Indigenous rights during the clean energy transition, including their right to engage in decision-making processes, access to full information, say “yes” or “no” to projects, and have the ability to withdraw consent at any stage if circumstances change.

Key #COP28 Reports

The food and climate reports you need to know about today.

• UN promotes alternative proteins’ climate credentials over livestock farming: A landmark report has seen the UNEP make a direct statement about the environmental and health benefits of alternative proteins – spanning plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-derived proteins – over livestock farming. It’s a firm indictment of the animal agriculture industry, and comes two days before the all-important COP28 Food Day.
• The huge impact of animal agriculture: Ahead of its much-anticipated 1.5°C roadmap, the FAO has released a report highlighting the huge impact of livestock emissions on climate change. It found that animal agriculture produces 6.2 gigatonnes of CO2e per year, cattle contribute to 60% of total livestock emissions, two-thirds of this figure is linked to meat, and the demand for animal products is set to grow by a fifth by mid-century from 2050 levels.
• 2023 officially the hottest year on record: There were projections of this happening already, but the EU has confirmed that 2023 will be the hottest year ever. The numbers make for dark reading: last month was the warmest November ever, the year has been 0.13°C hotter than the warmest yet (2016), and between November and January, the average temperature was 1.46°C above pre-industrial levels. Even more alarming: November’s temperatures were 1.75°C warmer.
• A playbook for climate resilience: Climate resilience platform ClimateAi has launched a playbook that acts as a blueprint for turning environmental challenges into business opportunities. This includes determining risk exposure, developing better on-the-ground visibility into regional climates, and creating action plans for singular assets.
• An analysis of four worldviews on the future of farming: Green Alliance has launched a report titled ‘Crossing the divide’, which assesses the perspectives of four different groups of people on what the future of agriculture should look like: traditionalists, ‘technovegans’, agroecologists and sustainable intensifiers.
• Rethinking school meals and their climate connection: A new white paper outlines how school meal policies and menus can provide a unique chance to catalyse a transformation of the global food system and its impact on climate change, biodiversity and food sovereignty.

Awesome Resources From Media Friends

A curation of our favourite reads of the day – excellent guides, explainers and op-eds from around the web.

The best and the worst of COP: Need a refresher on the high and low points of the conference so far? The Guardian has you covered.

Climate optimism: Don’t be so down – for some bloom among the gloom and doom, the BBC has a list of five things you can be optimistic about for the climate summit.

What happens if we miss 1.5°C: Okay, back to doom. Jonathan Watts, the Guardian’s global environment editor, sat down with five climate scientists to explain what breaching 1.5°C temperature rises would mean, and how it’s different from 2°C.

Big Ag follows Big Oil’s lead: As we get closer to the first COP Food Day on Sunday, Greenpeace has an explainer out on how the agriculture lobby is borrowing tactics from the fossil fuel industry to influence proceedings.

Can food waste solve the climate crisis?: Food and climate experts Lisa Moon and Gonzalo Muñoz have penned an in-depth opinion piece for FairPlanet describing how food waste and loss can help tackle climate change.

Brazil’s intensive farming exit: Brazil was a signatory of the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action on the second day of COP28. Jennifer Ann Thomas analyses how the beef-producing giant is charting its course away from factory farming in a story for Reuters’ Ethical Corporation Magazine.

Lighter Green Fun

Funny stuff, weird stuff, random stuff related to COP you may enjoy.

No more hot air: British plant-based meat producer Meatless Farm has initiated a new ‘No More Hot Air’ campaign to urge leaders to “make COP matter”, highlighting how addressing the food system is just as important as stopping fossil fuels.

A literal emissions cap: The Canadian delegation’s emissions cap (get it?) is now a coveted fashion accessory in Dubai.

What to eat at COP: How do you decide what to eat at the largest ever UN climate conference, covering a mammoth area and with two-thirds of meatless food? TimeOut has an extensive guide to help you make your mind up!

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

*Today is the ninth day since COP28 began, but officially the eighth day as yesterday was a rest day.

The post COP28 Daily Digest: Everything You Need To Know in Food and Climate News – Day 8 appeared first on Green Queen.

Welcome to the official rest day of #COP28. In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6 – DAY 7

Headlines You Need To Know

The COP-related news you cannot miss.

US TO WORK WITH OTHER COUNTRIES TO ACCELERATE NUCLEAR ENERGY: US climate envoy John Kerry has announced that the country will work with other nations to step up and accelerate efforts to develop nuclear fusion as a source of carbon-free energy. This came just a day after it emerged that Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Republican House energy chair, would be skipping COP28. due to a “scheduling conflict”.

UN FINANCE BODY SAYS CARBON TAXES COULD RAISE TRILLIONS FOR CLIMATE FIGHT: The International Monetary Fund has said that diverting the trillions of dollars currently used as fossil fuel subsidies, and introducing a pricing structure on carbon emissions can unlock a huge amount of capital, which can be used to tackle the climate crisis. Its managing director Kristalina Georgieva says carbon taxes could be achieved with regulatory approval.

UNCERTAINTY OVER COP29 HOST: We might know that Brazil is hosting COP30 in 2025, but there’s uncertainty over who’s hosting COP29 next year. The problem stems from Russia’s war on Ukraine: rules dictate that the next COP needs to be held in Eastern Europe, but the Russian government has opposed hosting it in an EU member state, and has blocked Bulgaria’s bid. The other potential countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan, are rivals and won’t back each other – so uncertainty looms.

63 COUNTRIES JOIN PLEDGE TO CUT COOLING EMISSIONS: In a landmark agreement, 63 nations have enacted the Global Cooling Pledge to curb global warming emissions from cooling, which includes refrigeration of food and medicine, and air conditioning. A first-of-its-kind deal, this will see countries aim to reduce these emissions by 68% from a 2022 baseline.

PROTESTORS CALL FOR VEGAN TREATY AKIN TO PARIS AGREEMENT: Days after publishing its vegan doughnut economics report, the Plant Based Treaty has been protesting outside the Blue Zone at COP28 to call for the negotiation of a global Plant Based Treaty to complement the Paris Agreement and address breaches to five planetary boundaries.

BREAKTHROUGH INITIATIVE PROMISES CLIMATE-RESILIENT BUILDINGS AND NEAR-ZERO EMISSIONS: France and Morocco, along with the UNEP, have launched the Buildings Breakthrough initiative at the summit, which brings nations together to transform the construction sector. The aim is to reach near-zero emissions and make climate-resilient buildings the ‘new normal’ by 2030, with 27 countries having signed on,

LOCAL SUMMIT SPOTLIGHTS THE ROLE OF CITIES: The first-of-its-kind Local Climate Action Summit convened over 250 mayors and governors from cities across the world to recognise their role in reducing emissions, addressing risks and supercharging national climate efforts. They mobilised $467M for urban climate action, which involves funding city-level and US national infrastructure and action.

WESTERN LEADERS SIGN GREEN PROCUREMENT PLEDGE: The US, Canada, the UK and Germany have signed the Green Public Procurement Pledge to decarbonise heavy industries by creating a market demand for low- and near-zero emissions from steel, cement and concrete via public procurement and using harmonised emissions accounting standards.

GLOBAL CONSORTIUM HEADS UP FUNDING STRATEGY FOR ZERO-EMISSION BUSES: Companies and countries part of the Collective for Clean Transport Finance will spearhead lighthouse projects to ramp up the global deployment of zero-emission buses, medium and heavy-duty freight, and two- and three-wheeler electrification.

GREEN SHIPPING CHALLENGE EVENTS MARKS PROGRESS MADE: One year after Norway and the US launched the Green Shipping Challenge, a lot of progress has been made. This includes the opening of a number of green shipping corridors, regulatory comments in Australia and Norway, and a $19M investment by the latter to support developing countries in transitioning to cleaner shipping.

UN HEALTH BODY PROMOTES PLANT-BASED DIETS: The World Health Organization has directly promoted a vegan diet on its social media channels, with a post saying 30% of emissions come from food systems and noting how meat production is especially responsible for that. Plant-based foods, it says, require fewer resources and produce fewer emissions.

UAE LAUNCHES FOOD FUND FOR THE GLOBAL SOUTH: The UAE’s climate ministry has launched the Financing the Future of Food initiative, which explores bond structures supported by the World Bank Treasury to help de-risk private sector finances and transform the food and agricultural system in the Global South.

Key #COP28 Reports

The food and climate reports you need to know about today.

• Carbon capture and storage dependence ‘highly economically damaging’: A new report by Oxford University suggests that a high Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) pathway to net zero in 2050 would cost at least $30T more than a low CCS one, averaging $1T annually. This is because the cost of CCs hasn’t declined in 40 years, in contrast to renewable energy, which has seen prices drop drastically.
• Climate transition benefits outweigh the costs: A blog post by the International Monetary Fund shows that avoiding physical damage from climate change can have sizeable benefits, and ensuring a low-carbon future can also be good for the economy. The amount of money it will take to fund mitigation policies is far lower than the net GDP growth it will present.
• A roadmap to cut food loss and waste and GHG emissions: Nearly 50 organisations have delivered a roadmap to help countries’ public and private sectors reduce food loss and waste, as well as GHG emissions from food. It focuses on seven countries: Brazil, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, and the US.
• How climate change impacts food imports in the UK: The UK imports half of its food, a further half of which comes from climate hotspots, but climate change effects like extreme weather, flooding and droughts threaten this supply, says a report by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit.

Awesome Resources From Media Friends

A curation of our favourite reads of the day – excellent guides, explainers and op-eds from around the web.

How delegates are spending their day off: It’s the only official day off for delegates at COP28. How are they spending it? The Guardian has the scoop (there are waterparks, skiing, shopping, deserts, and – perhaps most excitingly – sleep).

Taking stock of the Stocktake: Confused about what the fuss with the Global Stocktake is all about? Politico has a fantastic explainer outlining just that – covering what’s happened, what’s happening, and what could happen next.

India brings up climate inequality, but what about its fossil fuels?: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fired some shots at the West saying the actions of a few disproportionately affect the vulnerable. While this is true, what about India – the world’s most populous country and third-largest carbon producer – and its fossil fuel industry? That’s the question Gayathri Vaidyanathan explores in her essay for Nature.

India’s climate-rich: In her analysis for CNN, Diksha Madhok explores the balance of fighting climate change and wealth – and how India’s richest are investing in clean energy with money they earned on the back of the fossil fuel industry.

Tories echo right-wing climate inaction: In an opinion piece for the Guardian, Diyora Shadijanova has made a compelling case for the anti-climate rhetoric led by the political right, which has only been amplified by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s blink-and-you-miss-it COP28 appearance and recent U-turns on climate policy.

Climate economics: There have been loads of climate funding announcements over the last week – to keep track of the major ones, Reuters has listed out who is shelling out what.

Is this COP too big, literally?: Already over 100,000 people have attended this year’s summit at Dubai’s Expo City, which is as huge as New York City’s Central Park. But is it too big, wonders Bloomberg’s John Ainger, who notes that people haven’t been able to have impromptu corridor meetings – where key deals are struck – because of the sheer size of the venue.

The meat debate: Want to know more about why meat and farming reforms are key to solving the climate crisis? Andrew Green has a wonderful explainer in Devex waiting for you.

Lighter Green Fun

Funny stuff, weird stuff, random stuff related to COP you may enjoy.

Carbon budget pie: Climate scientist Ed Hawkins has posted a striking graphic on LinkedIn showing how close were are to the brink of our carbon budget, and how quickly we’ve got there.

Less is more: Swedish energy company Göteborg Energi has teamed up with comms agency Welcom for a Do Less for the Climate campaign – as in, less driving, less meat consumption, less plastic, less energy use. Yep, they had us there.

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

*Today is the eighth day since COP28 began, but it was officially a rest day, so doesn’t form part of the event programming.

The post COP28 Daily Digest: Everything You Need To Know in Food and Climate News – Rest Day appeared first on Green Queen.

Welcome to Day 7 of #COP28. In Green Queen’s COP28 Daily Digest, our editorial team curates the must-reads, the must-bookmarks and the must-knows from around the interwebs to help you ‘skim the overwhelm’.

Catch up: DAY 1 – DAY 2 – DAYS 3 & 4 – DAY 5 – DAY 6

Headlines You Need To Know

The COP-related news you cannot miss.

UPDATED GLOBAL STOCKTAKE DRAFT REMOVES MENTION OF FOOD SYSTEMS: A new draft of the Global Stocktake outcomes has removed any mention of food and agriculture, actions related to which were present in earlier drafts and promised to feature prominently at this year’s summit. It has led to over 50 organisations calling for these solutions to be reintegrated in the final draft, with an encouraging outcome expected.

AGRIFOOD SECURITY NEGOTIATIONS HALT, WITH NO FURTHER TALKS UNTIL JUNE: Negotiations around coordination and governance on the Joint Work on Agriculture and Food Security (SSJW) – which aims to address gaps in agriculture and food security – are at an impasse. As talks conclude, there will be no more updates on this until the next meeting in June 2024, which is a major blow to farmers and producers.

NEW TOOL HELPS GOVERNMENTS IMPLEMENT FOOD-FORWARD NDCS: A group of organisations led by the WWF have announced a new tool to help policymakers implement food-centric nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Set to be launched in February 2024, Food Forward NDCs will present practices and policy measures to enable systemic food system shifts to meet NDC targets.

UK SET TO MISS PARIS AGREEMENT TARGETS BY WIDE MARGIN: Analysis by Friends of the Earth has revealed that under current regulations, the UK is set to miss the targets outlined by the Paris Agreement by a wide margin. The country’s current GHG emissions are set to be 59% lower in 2030 from a 1990 baseline, but its internationally agreed target is supposed to be a 68% reduction. Current policies would achieve just half of the reduction required by 2030 – and the gap has widened under Rishi Sunak’s prime ministership.

10 AFRICAN COUNTRIES RECEIVE $100M FOOD LOSS FUNDS: The Green Climate Fund – the world’s largest environmental fund – has earmarked $100M in climate financing to aid 10 African countries in adapting to food loss reduction solutions. This will provide farmers with access to tech and make saving food more affordable and accessible.

SCIENTISTS CALL ON PUBLIC TO BECOME CLIMATE ACTIVISTS: 1,447 scientists and academics have penned an open letter calling on the public to become climate activists and take collective action against the crisis. “First, we were concerned. Then, we were alarmed. Now, we are terrified,” reads the letter. “We need you… Wherever you are, become a climate advocate or activist.”

OIL CEO COMPARES ENERGY-CLIMATE LINK TO FARMERS CAUSING OBESITY: The CEO of Emirati energy firm Crescent Petroleum was quoted as saying that associating the energy sector with climate change “is like blaming farmers for obesity”. “It’s our societal consumption that is the issue,” he told CNN, in the latest example of the oil industry’s influence at the climate summit.

‘GIGAFARM’ COULD REPLACE 1% OF UAE FOOD IMPORTS: A new 900,000 sq ft waste-to-value ‘GigaFarm’ capable of recycling 50,000 tonnes of food waste and growing two billion plants annually is set to begin construction in mid-2024. The result of a deal between Food Tech Valley and ReFarm at COP28, it will be operational by 2026 and could replace 1% of the UAE’s food imports.

NEW INITIATIVE AIMS TO BRIDGE NET-ZERO GAP BETWEEN GLOBAL NORTH AND SOUTH: The Net Zero Technology Centre has launched the Technology Without Borders initiative at COP28, a global tech collaborative project for rapid transfers, deployment and scale-up ambition to close the North-South net-zero energy tech divide. It will include tech co-development, transfer and local adaptation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building between countries.

EUROPEAN INVESTMENT FUND COMMITS €200M FOR CLIMATE EQUITY FUNDS: The European Investment Fund has announced €200M of investment in four private equity funds investing a total of €2B in climate action. This includes €40M to Tikehau Regenerative Agriculture, a €50M top-up to SDCL Green Energy Solutions Fund, €60M to Get Fund I, and €50M to SET Fund IV.

WORLD BANK TO LAUNCH 15 PROGRAMMES TO SLASH 10 MILLION TONNES OF METHANE: The World Bank is stepping up its efforts to “bend the methane emission curve” with 15 country-led programmes, to be launched over the next 18 months, that will reduce 10 million tonnes of the gas’s emissions.

60+ CEOS COMMIT TO CUT GHG EMISSIONS BY HALF BY 2030: A group of over 60 CEOs, who are members of the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization, have committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 51% and boost investment in energy transition projects to over $50B by the end of the decade. This includes companies like Siemens Energy, Tata Steel, Petronas and Standard Chartered.

NEW RESEARCH PROGRAMME TRACTS METRICS TO REDUCE LIVESTOCK FARMING: Animal rights organisation Mercy For Animals has introduced a new research programme to identify and create tractable metrics for reducing animal agriculture. Titlted Metrics That Nourish, it will evaluate existing programmes to measure this impact, develop tactics that are context- and geography-specific, and refine them through pilot studies to transition the food system away from industrial livestock farming.

WWF & REFED FORM US FOOD WASTE PACT: The WWF and non-profit ReFED have formed a US Food Waste Pact, a voluntary agreement to allow pre-competitive collaboration and data-driven action to meet national and global food waste reduction targets, including the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 (halving global food waste by 2030).

Key #COP28 Reports

The food and climate reports you need to know about today.

• The planet on the verge of five catastrophic tipping points: The 2023 Global Tipping Points report suggests that the Earth is on the verge of five catastrophic events that can trigger a domino effect, including the collapse of ice sheets in the two poles, permafrost thawing, coral reef deaths in warm waters and the collapse of an atmospheric current. Three more of these tipping points may be reached by 2030 if the world goes beyond 1.5°C.
• Clean cooking can catalyse green food system: A new report by the Clean Cooking Alliance outlines the key role that clean cooking tech can play in a shift towards a sustainable food system by supporting climate-smart farming, enhancing nutrition and food security, and improving resilience among agricultural communities.
• The role of regenerative agriculture for food transformation: A WWF paper explains how strengthening the alignment between agroecology, regenerative agriculture and nature-positive approaches can be a catalyst for food system transformation.
• UK policymakers urge government to put soil on the same footing as water and air: The UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee has published the findings of its inquiry into soil health and suggested that soil health be taken as seriously as air and water quality to protect the food supply and environment. It calls on the government to fund standardised soil testing and administer statutory targets on soil health by 2028.
• Dietary shifts and eco-positive agriculture crucial to restore nature: A new report by SYSTEMIQ spotlights the importance investing in nature-positive food, forestry and fishing, as well as shifting diets as two of four priorities to protect and restore nature and address the causes of nature loss.

Awesome Resources From Media Friends

A curation of our favourite reads of the day – excellent guides, explainers and op-eds from around the web.

Science vs Big Oil: A New York Times op-ed argues that COP28 is a battle between the fossil fuel industry and science, with matters not helped by the conference president’s curious remarks a few days ago.

‘A buffet of false solutions’: Stephanie Feldstein, sustainability director at the Center for Biological Diversity, has written an op-ed for The Hill questioning whether the food policies being proposed at COP28 are meaningful.

The media is doing the greenwashing for fossil fuel giants: An investigation by several news organisations suggests that leading, trusted media sources have actively been producing and promoting misleading content for fossil fuel companies through native advertising, which are sponsored articles made to look like the rest of a publication’s work.

Lighter Green Fun

Funny stuff, weird stuff, random stuff related to COP you may enjoy.

COP math: Chad Frischmann, founder and CEO of Regenerative Intelligence, is not going to COP28. Why, you ask? He’s done some calculations to come up with a staggering (minimum) figure being spent on the “corrupt” conference: $226M.

COPGPT: Tired of all the research? Head to this very handy COP28-themed CustomGPT that answers all your burning questions. Mine, fittingly, was: “Is COP28 corrupt?” Alas, the chatbot is too politically correct.

Follow all our #COP28 coverage. Like what you’re reading? Share it!

The post COP28 Daily Digest: Everything You Need To Know in Food and Climate News – Day 7 appeared first on Green Queen.