Climate

Food systems today account for up to one third of global greenhouse gas emissions heating the planet. At the same time, those food systems are gravely threatened by the impacts of the climate crisis. Already, climate change has begun to affect food security for all, the predicability of yields and food prices, and the livelihoods of farm workers.

Yet, sustainable food systems could and must be a major part of the solution. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that sustainable food systems - founded on principles such as agroecology and food sovereignty - could create the social and environmental resilience we need to withstand climate shocks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the coming months and years, IPES-Food aims to put the transition to sustainable food systems high on the agenda of international climate negotiations, and at the centre of debate about the climate crisis.

Publications

All publications

June 2016 | Agroecology

From Uniformity to Diversity: A paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems

This report made the case for a paradigm shift from industrial agriculture to diversified agroecological systems and identifies the 8 ‘lock-ins’ holding back transition.

Read the full report ( EN | FR | CN )
Read the executive summary ( EN )
Read the key messages ( EN | FR | ES )

May 2022

Agroecology as a vital approach to combat desertification

With 44% of the world’s farms located in drylands, the threat of desertification to global food security and livelihoods is significant. The UNCCD has recognized agroecology as one of the most cost-effective approach to protect and restore farmland. Ahead of UNCCD COP15, IPES-Food shares insights on the link between agroecology and combatting desertification, and success stories from around the world to restore land using agroecological practices.

April 2022

NEWS | IPCC: world will miss 1.5°C without transforming food system

Reacting to the publication of the IPCC report on report on the mitigation of climate change, IPES-Food experts said, we are barrelling towards catastrophic levels of global heating - and our industrial food system is a major culprit. Yet right now, almost no government has plans in their national climate strategies to transform food systems.

November 2021

The Glasgow Food Climate Declaration

The Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration brings together local and regional authorities from across the world to speak with a unified voice in committing to putting into practice integrated food policies to tackle the climate emergency.

Visit the website

February 2022

NEWS | IPCC: Transform agriculture or climate change will inflict unprecedented hunger

Reacting to today's publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the impacts of climate change on nature and people, experts from IPES-Food are calling for fundamental reform of our food systems to avoid unprecedented hunger.

November 2021

Food Systems and climate action at COP26

At UN climate change negotations in Glasgow, 45 governments pledged to take urgent action to move towards more sustainable food systems. However, few of the commitments move beyond a business-as-usual approach.