Q: What is the focus of COP28 regarding food systems?
A: COP28 will dedicate a day to recognizing the role of food systems in climate change, focusing on the impact of food production, transportation, and storage on carbon emissions and their vulnerability to climate changes.
Q: What have global organizations requested from the UNFCCC?
A: Around 80 organizations, including WWF and the Food Systems Partnership, have urged the UNFCCC to acknowledge the importance of transforming food systems to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Q: What is the Leaders Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture, and Climate Action?
A: It is an invitation for governments to align their national food systems and agriculture strategies with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
Q: What does the UN Global Stocktake report say about agriculture?
A: The report emphasizes the critical role of sustainable agriculture practices, including diet changes, reducing food loss and waste, and preventing land expansion, in achieving net-zero targets.
Q: How are food and energy systems interconnected?
A: Food production, transportation, and storage depend on fossil fuels and contribute significantly to emissions, comparable to the emissions of the European Union countries and Russia combined.
Q: Why won’t the food system’s dependence on fossil fuels reduce directly with renewable energy transition?
A: The food system’s use of fossil fuels extends beyond electricity and transport to include petrochemicals for plastic packaging and petroleum-based pesticides and fertilisers.
Q: What is the IEA’s prediction for petrochemicals and ammonia production?
A: The IEA predicts that petrochemicals will drive half of the oil demand growth by 2050, with ammonia production expected to grow by 40% by 2050, mainly for hydrogen in fertiliser production.
Q: How can redirecting agricultural subsidies impact food sustainability and climate change?
A: Redirecting subsidies can enhance environmental sustainability and human well-being by promoting more sustainable production methods and reducing the loss of forests and incentivized fossil fuel use.
Q: Are countries including agriculture in their climate plans?
A: Very few countries have included agriculture in their climate plans, and many NDCs lack detail on funding needs for climate action in food systems.
Q: What is the significance of addressing food loss and waste (FLW) at COP28?
A: FLW accounts for 8-10% of global GHG emissions, and addressing it is crucial for transitioning to sustainable food systems and ensuring equitable food distribution.
