Food deserves a place at the climate table.
Reversing several of his government’s climate pledges, Rishi Sunak said last month that he was adopting a “more pragmatic, proportionate and realistic approach” to net zero that spares consumers and households undue hardship.
The policy changes, which were allegedly made to placate voters, included rescheduling the date for phase-out of gas boilers, removing energy efficiency targets, and postponing the ban on new gasoline and diesel cars.
However, the prime minister also declared that he would not be putting laws into place to support sustainable behavior, like those that would discourage eating meat and support plant-based diets.
The can that is persistently pushed down the street
Even though up to 20% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide come from the animal agriculture industry, policymakers all too easily ignore the negative environmental effects of our global food system. One of the main causes of climate change is the industrial rearing of cattle.
Large tracts of land must be cleared for the industrial-scale production and processing of animal feed, such as soy and corn, and the transportation of these crops from factory farms to plates releases toxic emissions into the atmosphere. Not to mention the hundreds of millions of animals that suffer from habitat destruction as well as living in industrial farms.
Another instance of how the global food system and its carbon and cruelty footprint are neglected is Sunak’s announcement. This is extremely concerning because, in all honesty, we cannot reach net zero unless we fix our malfunctioning food system. Although there are many reasons why food systems cause environmental harm, research indicates that even if we were to completely eradicate emissions from fossil fuels, the emissions from food systems would still keep us below the 1.5°C target set by the Paris Agreement.
Diets high in plants and a variety of proteins serve as tools to help address the climate crisis. A primarily plant-based diet system not only benefits the environment but also enhances animal welfare, improves health, and advances social justice for those who are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and climate change.
However, this is not a change that can be achieved quickly; cooperation among all parties is necessary, and the government is crucial in promoting the adoption of more environmentally friendly eating habits. Therefore, it is extremely concerning that the government has given this issue little priority. This gives the wrong impression to businesses, consumers, and industry about the role the food system plays in helping to solve the net zero puzzle.
We have lost a chance to speak positively about our current food system—a can that keeps getting kicked down the road—with Sunak’s announcement. It also begs the question of why the UK has not moved sooner to address the environmental effects of the food system, given that the country has previously enacted successful policies, such as the 2018 “sugar tax,” which increased prices while reducing intake. Similar programs, like Healthy Start, have promoted the eating of particular foods in order to improve health.
Similar initiatives that lower the cost and increase accessibility of plant-based food are needed to encourage the shift to plant-based diets; for this reason, the government’s own climate advisors have recommended placing price caps on plant-based food. Should the expense prevent the government from implementing these policies, we should examine the subsidies that support industrial agriculture.
Taking joint action to combat climate change
There is not much time left to fix our flawed food system. Greenpeace estimates that if current trends continue, the agricultural sector will be responsible for 52% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide by 2050, with meat and dairy accounting for 70% of these emissions. This suggests that the problem is only expected to worsen.
These numbers not only illustrate the magnitude of the problem facing us, but they also provide compelling evidence for the inclusion of food in the climate discussion. In order to transform our broken food system, a wide range of actors will need to work together. These actors include the government, businesses, public and private sector organizations, and individuals who are willing and able to shift our diets to more sustainably produced foods.
It could be argued that the UK is lagging behind others when it ought to be leading by example and spurring international action. Consider Germany, where farmers are being encouraged to diversify their agricultural sector and move away from pig farming in an effort to make it more sustainable and varied. In the meantime, this year saw a record low in meat consumption in Germany.
The data indicating that Britons are open to altering their diets is arguably the most startling. After Rishi Sunak’s announcement, a nationwide survey of people’s opinions found that people wanted changes to the food system, with 82% of respondents saying it was critical that we produce food without endangering the environment. In the end, there is a desire, but we require more potent means of bridging the gap between our ideal and actual situation.
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What comes next? Ahead of COP28
We have another opportunity to fix our broken food system and create a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive one with COP28 just around the corner. For the second year in a row, food, agriculture, and water-related concerns will take up an entire day of global climate talks. This is a critical step towards implementing a just food transition.
ProVeg International’s Food4Climate pavilion at COP28 will put a focus on changing food systems. ProVeg International, World Animal Protection, Upfield, and other prominent international players in the food and animal agriculture sectors, including Compassion in World Farming, spearheaded the pavilion’s launch at COP27 last year. It is a rare coalition of organizations from the public, commercial, and nonprofit sectors advocating for a fair food transition for the good of people, animals, and the environment. They will also be raising awareness of the need of reducing carbon emissions by switching to more environmentally friendly diets.
Furthermore, we have already advanced. For the first time ever, ProVeg International helped the COP presidency prioritize plant-based food options at the conference this year. This marks a significant shift in the UN’s recognition of the connection between climate change and our food system.
In summary
The statement made by Sunak will convey a false impression about the environmental effects of food. The government has pushed food systems change further down the green agenda by actively shelving policies to encourage the shift to more sustainable diets, sidestepping the unbreakable links between industrial animal agriculture and climate change.
A rare opportunity to reverse the trend and give food a rightful place at the climate table exists during COP28. Together, we can promote changes in sustainable eating patterns and facilitate the global shift away from animal husbandry as a means of subsistence. In the end, this is what’s required for a more equitable and sustainable environment that supports the well-being of people, animals, and the environment.