After two weeks of wrangling and intense negotiations a deal on climate finance was agreed in the final hours at COP 29 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change) in Baku, Azerbaijan. However the effectiveness of this agreement remains to be seen. The Baku Accord, commits developed countries to provide $300 billion in climate finance per year, to developing nations by 2035. However, many observers feel the overall conference failed to send a strong signal on the need to rapidly reduce emissions and phase out fossil fuels. 

When it comes to sustainable food systems, despite the fact that agriculture is responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions, 90% of deforestation, and 60% of biodiversity loss, food system change remains an underfunded sector.  Recent research from the Global Alliance for the Future of Food shows that less than 3% of climate finance has been directed towards the creation of more sustainable food systems. 

This makes it all the more important that day nine of the conference focused on the issues of food, agriculture and water.  The most notable outcome of these discussions was the signing of the Reducing Methane from Organic Waste Declaration, signed by 30 countries who collectively, are responsible for nearly 50% of global methane emissions from organic waste. This pledge will introduce sectoral targets to reduce methane emissions from organic waste within future Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and promote actions that “prioritise and accelerate solutions that focus on avoidance, diversion, valorisation and infrastructure (ADVI) in the waste sector”. 

This builds on the momentum of COP 28 and the “Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action” which acknowledges that “any path to fully achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement must include agriculture and food systems.”

The next Conference of Parties (COP 30) will be in Brazil where the link with the negative impacts of our food system, such as deforestation and biodiversity, will be unavoidable. After a disappointing COP 29 in terms of levels of global ambition, we must continue to call for further action and support, both at home and globally, for solutions that reduce emissions from food loss and waste - such as food sharing and food redistribution - while also supporting those who are food insecure.