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Cop30 Misses Food: Billions at Risk?
28 Nov
Summary
- Food systems, responsible for one-third of emissions, were omitted from Cop30 text.
- Smallholder farmers, feeding billions, face increasing climate risks and financial strain.
- Experts criticize the exclusion, citing corporate lobby influence and a "failure to name" the issue.
The recent Cop30 climate conference concluded without any mention of food systems in its final text, despite the sector's significant contribution to global emissions. Experts voiced dismay, emphasizing that food production, livestock, and waste account for approximately one-third of greenhouse gases, necessitating its inclusion in climate action plans.
Food systems are also vital for climate adaptation, supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers worldwide. These farmers, responsible for a substantial portion of global food production, are disproportionately affected by extreme weather, jeopardizing food security for billions and facing significant financial losses from climate-related disasters.
Critics point to potential corporate lobbying as a reason for the food industry's omission, calling the outcome a "capture" rather than a failure. The lack of specific financial commitments or clear adaptation indicators for food systems leaves many vulnerable communities unsupported, despite current climate finance for agriculture being a mere one percent.
