WHAT ABOUT FOOD? An unavoidable source of emissions or an untapped climate solution?

Food is often overlooked in conversations about climate change, yet our food system contributes roughly one-quarter to one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. It is also the leading cause of biodiversity loss, and agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. Beyond environmental impacts, the food system is significantly damaging human health.

In this episode, James and Daisy talk about our global food system. What is wrong with it? How much responsibility lies with big corporations? And do we need to stop eating meat?

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Project Drawdown – A great resource to learn more about food-related climate solutions.
• The EAT-Lancet Report (2019) – the first attempt to set universal scientific targets for the food system that apply to people and planet.
• Plant-Based Diets (WWF) – a science-based platform to encourage diets that are good for people and planet. There’s a calculator so that can find out whether you’re eating the right things for you and for the environment.

OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:

• FAO (2023) – Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold: A Global Roadmap – FAO has identified 10 ‘domains of action’ that form a holistic portfolio. The Roadmap includes 120 actions, within which we can take concrete steps towards making a difference.
• The Felix Project: A London-based charity that rescues good, surplus food from the food industry that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste and delivers it to hundreds of food banks, charities, primary schools and holiday programmes. You can find ways to volunteer with them here.
• Tesco: In 2009, Tesco became the first business globally to set the ambition to become net zero across Group operations by 2050. In 2017, they were the first FTSE 100 company to set science-based targets for both own operations and supply chain in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5C pathway.
• Green Climate Fund (GCF): Health, food, and water security is an important area of work for GCF. It has funded 139 projects in this area amounting to $1.8 billion in financing.
• IPCC (2019): The food system is responsible for about 21–37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• UNEP (2021):Our global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 (86%) species at risk of extinction.
• FAO (2024): It is estimated that between 713 and 757 million people, corresponding to 8.9 and 9.4 percent of the global population, respectively, may have faced hunger in 2023. Considering the mid-range (733 million), this is about 152 million more people than in 2019.
• WHO (2024): In 2022, 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults (18 years and older) were overweight. Of these, 890 million were living with obesity.

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Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3

Producer: Podshop Studios

Huge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.

Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.