Advocating for Plant-Based Foods and Resilient Food Systems at COP28

Written by: Tawanda Muzhingi

“Our food systems are harming the health of people and planet.” This disconcerting message from WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, underscored a capstone theme at COP28, the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference held in Dubai in December 2023: It’s time for world leaders to address the connection between food production, human health, and the environment.

Globally, agriculture accounts for 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions – and, in addition to growing crops for feed, 57 percent of emissions from all food production come from raising animals for industrial meat and dairy. Scientific evidence links the overconsumption of dairy and meat products, especially in Western diets, to an alarmingly high use of natural resources: one-third of fresh water is used to produce animal products, industrial animal agriculture occupies nearly 80 percent of the world’s agricultural land while producing less than 20 percent of our food calories. The science spells it out for us: We need to find better ways to feed the world without compromising the future stability of our planet.

There is reason for hope, however. Plant-based foods produce around half the emissions of animal-based foods and represent a potential market that could catalyze a transition to more sustainable and regenerative food production methods. Reducing emissions from our food system is paramount to meeting goals that science has shown will slow the rate of global warming as outlined in the Paris Agreement.Shifting toward plant-based diets and food systems can not only play a role in curtailing emissions but can also re-allocate crops to provide essential nutrition to our population while also alleviating growing resource inequities. The solution inherent in plant-based foods and diets is so compelling, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgent need for global populations to consume “more plant-based” diets.

Commitments Around Plant-Based

What set COP28 apart was its designation as the "food systems COP," acknowledging the significant role of food systems in global greenhouse gas emissions. The event featured many wins for the socialization of plant-based foods – including a number of food-focused pavilions and a menu that was two-thirds plant-based. The Food4Climate Pavilion, led by ProVeg International, served as my primary hub, bringing together diverse stakeholders—environmental advocates, plant-based food manufacturers, animal welfare supporters, and youth agricultural groups.

Kicking off the focus on food systems, COP28 opened with a Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action which was signed by over 159 countries that affirmed “agriculture and food systems must urgently adapt and transform in order to respond to the imperatives of climate change.” The declaration outlines agricultural objectives including scaling up adaptation, supporting vulnerable populations, ensuring decent work, and maximizing climate benefits. According to the World Resources Institute, the aforesigned nations represent 68% (530 million) of the world’s farmers, 75% of the global population, 77% of global food production, 81% of the world’s arable land, 83% of global emissions from the food system and 83% of the world’s agricultural GDP – a clear majority vote in favor of climate progress through global food systems transformation.

While countries who signed the declaration agreed to integrate agriculture into climate action and mainstreaming climate efforts into agricultural policies by 2025, there are no specific required actions tied to this effort. However, the broad recognition and consensus on the need for sustainable diets and a food system that delivers on climate goals is significant.

A pivotal moment during COP28 unfolded on December 1st during "The Great Food Debate," where I underscored the critical role of plant-based foods in global food security. A unanimous consensus emerged during the event on the imperative for climate funding, irrespective of a country's economic standing. Following this key milestone, I was joined just a few days later by Donovan Will, founder of the Plant Based Foods Association of South Africa, to hold a fireside chat hosted by the International Plant Based Foods Working Group. During this energizing conversation, we delved into a just-released global survey report addressing labeling restrictions for plant-based foods and its implications for consumers, businesses, and the environment.

Networking opportunities at COP28 provided a nuanced understanding of the conflicting interests surrounding the climate conversation: Representatives from the US and EU-based meat and dairy sector sought to cast doubt on plant-based diets. A recent piece in The Guardian noted that around three times the amount of industrial agriculture companies and trade groups attended COP28. The article’s authors write, “Big food and farming representatives are keen to steer conversations away from dietary change, which is under discussion at the summit.” I also noted a discernible surge in advocacy for regenerative agriculture from big food companies and consulting firms.

While proposed solutions to lower the impact of our food systems may have varied, it is significant that “food” has been added to the Global Stocktake – marking it imperative to address the state of our food system in order to stave off the worst impacts of climate change – and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization road map, released at COP28, planned for a dietary shift in rich countries away from meat and towards plant-based foods, as well as other measures to reduce food waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions from foods, and build agricultural resilience. Another UN agency, the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) for the first time endorsed alternative proteins at COP28, highlighted the potential positive impact of global adoption of plant-based strategies for people, planet and animal welfare.

Action After COP28

With growing attention on the connection between food and the environment, it is paramount that we continue to raise awareness for the potential of plant-based foods. Food systems are endlessly complex but plant-based diets offer a tangible solution and a path forward that cannot only help minimize our harmful impact on the planet, but also increase our ability to feed a growing population. My team is looking ahead to a stronger showing at COP29 in Baku Azerbaijan, where we will continue our high level advocacy for the global adoption of plant-based foods and alternative protein diversification strategies across the world. To facilitate our goals, we are looking forward to engaging donors and supporters to continue funding the effort in favor of plant-based agriculture, a proven and effective way to improve people’s health, protect the environment, address global inequality, and improve animal welfare. I am eager to collaborate and continue the conversation with the industry leaders I met at COP28 – together, we can start to realize the potential of plant-based for the betterment of people, planet, and animals.