COP28 Targets Food as Catalyst for Global Warming

During the UN climate summit COP28 in Dubai, more than 130 countries signed a declaration to address the significant role that food and agriculture play in climate change. The declaration, called the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, aims to tackle the emissions produced by the food industry, which contribute one-third of the warming gases that cause global temperature increase. The signatory countries represent 5.7 billion people and 75% of global food production and consumption emissions. The declaration has been praised by experts and charities who say it is long overdue. The US, China, the EU, and the UK, all major emitters of greenhouse gases from food, have also signed up. However, experts suggest that this declaration is unlikely to result in immediate government policies such as a meat tax or lower food prices. The declaration has been cautiously welcomed by leaders of global farmer organizations, who emphasize the need to turn the promises into concrete policies. They also highlight the need for more climate finance to support small farmers, who produce a significant portion of the world's food but are vulnerable to extreme weather events. Brazilian farmers have spoken out about the impact of the climate crisis on agriculture, citing the recent heatwave and floods that have damaged crops. World leaders, including King Charles, highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change, with the King referring to the current year as the hottest on record and warning about the detrimental effects of human-induced ecological changes. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also emphasized the need for concrete actions and addressing the impact of climate change on people's lives worldwide.