Climate

There is no 1.5C future without moving away from industrial food and farming systems. Today's industrial food systems account for up to one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, those very same systems are gravely threatened by the impacts of the climate crisis, threatening global food security and the livelihoods of farm- and foodworkers around the world. Radically changing the way we produce, distribute, and consumer our food is the only route to a more resilient future. 

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
November 2023 | Urban food systems

From Plate to Planet: How local governments are driving action on climate change through food

Our latest report shows how city and regional governments are leading the way on real food and climate action, while national governments lag. It urges governments to use COP28 as an opportunity to revise national climate commitments (NDCs) to systematically include food systems and local action.

March 2023 | Global Governance

Breaking the Cycle of Unsustainable Food Systems, Hunger, and Debt: A special report

Our Special Report takes aim at a growing debt crisis that could plunge millions more into hunger – and the critical role of unsustainable food systems in driving rising debt and food insecurity.

 

 

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 )

July 2023

NEWS | Food security in jeopardy

Recent news and reports have highlighted chatastrophic levels of hunger, erasing years of progress, and worrying developments the could jeopardize food security. IPES-Food experts react to the reports, calling for debt relief and investment in more diverse and resilient food systems to better withstand shocks.

December 2022

Making the link between agroecology and biodiversity, climate & desertification

The world faces interlinked crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation and desertification, and hunger. We need to tackle them together. Ahead of CBD COP15, we pull together the facts and figures on how agroecology – an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable approach to food and farming with nature – can help tackle multiple crises. 

 

November 2022

As world leaders gather, will COP27 deliver food system transformation?

COP27, this year's climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh, will finally begin to address the link between food and climate. Join IPES-Food for a series of side events covering numerous aspects of the food-climate nexus, including climate finance for agroecology, urban food policies, the need for multi-level action on food, a just protein transition and more.

See the programme of events at COP27
Read the briefing for journalists

November 2022

Climate change, adaptation & the potential of agroecology

This infosheet provides data and case study examples of how agroecology can succeed in both mitigating and adapting to climate change - by being more resilient to climate and environmental shocks, producing high yields, improving food security and nutrition, and increasing farmer income. Agroecology will prove paramount to our ability to mitigate and adapt to a rapidly changing climate. 

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

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.

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.

Media

All media
October 2022

The Field Report: As COP27 approaches, a push for more attention to food and agriculture

Civil Eats

October 2022

Bringing Food and Agriculture Leadership to COP27

Forbes

March 2022

A hotter planet means a hungrier planet, climate report warns

Reuters

February 2022

Climate change puts increasing pressure on food production, finds IPCC

Euractiv

February 2022

OPINION | Can Africa and the EU join forces to boost sustainable farming?

Reuters

December 2021

PODCAST | Glasgow Food & Climate Declaration

Farm Gate

November 2021

These cities and towns have food at the heart of their climate plans. Why don’t nations?

National Observer

October 2021

OPINION | The UN’s Big Climate Summit Is Ignoring a Giant Red Flag

Mother Jones

September 2021

INTERVIEW | Good COP, bad COP: Why inaction on food systems should be ‘unthinkable’

Food Talks

April 2021

INTERVIEW | Pat Mooney: “It’s More A Call To ‘Armies’ Than Arms” on ‘A Long Food Movement’

Arc2020

April 2021

PODCAST | The Glasgow Food & Farming Declaration

Food Talk

August 2017

Agroecology as a means to transforming food systems for health, nutrition and equity in a climate changing world

Barilla Centre for Food & Nutrition

July 2017

Promoting food security and health in a climate changing world

Barilla Centre for Food & Nutrition

January 2017

Modern agriculture cultivates climate change – we must nurture biodiversity

The Guardian | Olivier De Schutter & Emile Frison