Food Systems Transformation as Climate Action

The Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are currently convening thousands of delegates from 196 nations, as well as observer states, UN agencies, and civil society observer organisations, for 3 weeks of informal consultations. They are working toward implementation of the Paris Agreement, in preparation for the COP26 negotiations in Glasgow.

Given the imperatives for post-COVID green and healthy recovery, including the need to reduce risk and build resilience against future shocks, and the need to accelerate national climate action ahead of the COP26 to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement, it is critical to ensure the food systems transformation is resilient, inclusive, healthy and sustainable. The 2021 virtual meetings of the UNFCCC provide a vital opportunity to identify these alignments and recognise food system transformation as an area of climate action that must be embedded in Nationally Determined Contributions to protect the health of people and Nature.

This dialogue will include Member State representatives, Food Systems Summit champions, technical experts, Action Area co-leads, and stakeholders. The outcomes will focus on leveraging resilience-building investments to surround consumers with healthy, sustainable food, while upgrading Nationally Determined Contributions for Paris Agreement implementation.

A formal Submission to the UNFCCC process will integrate participants’ views, for mobilisation of climate-smart food systems solutions, on the way to COP26 in Glasgow.

• The Submission will work from insights shared in this dialogue and integrate insights from the 3 weeks of virtual meetings under the Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC.
• The Moderator and organisers will invite participants, along with Food Systems Summit action team leads, and relevant partners and networks, to contribute to and revise the draft formal Submission.
• The final Submission will be sent to the Chairs of the SBI and SBSTA, and to the UNFCCC Secretariat. It will also be published by EAT to serve as a foundation for follow-up work.

Breakout sessions during this Independent Food Systems Summit Dialogue will focus on (1) climate-smart dietary shifts linked to Action Track 2 of the UN Food System Summit (2) financial innovation strategy and cooperative de-risking (3) sustainable development through climate-smart food production practices (4) Food Systems Summit solutions and the UNFCCC process, and (5) climate resilient pathways towards food systems transformation.