The role of nationally determined contributions in transitions toward sustainable food systems

In December 2023, COP 28 convened in Dubai to assess progress toward the Paris Agreement’s climate goals of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5–2.0 °C by 2050. The summit’s first Global Stocktake revealed that current climate actions are insufficient, with emissions still climbing and a 43% reduction needed by 2030 to maintain a 50% chance of meeting the 1.5 °C target—equivalent to annual cuts matching COVID-19 lockdown levels. Despite these sobering findings, COP 28 marked some progress: it called for a transition from fossil fuels, set higher targets for renewables and energy efficiency, pledged methane reductions, and urged Parties to revise their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Notably, food systems were included in a consensus declaration for the first time, recognizing their critical role in climate mitigation. Responsible for roughly one-third of global emissions and driving biodiversity loss, pollution, and social inequities, food systems are central to achieving climate goals. However, COP 28 offered little concrete action beyond aspirational language. While the FAO released a roadmap for food system transformation, existing analyses already outline urgent priorities—from sustainable agriculture and land use reform to nutrition standards, waste reduction, equity, and financing—underscoring the need for a structured, actionable framework.

---

Download :

English

---

This works is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

---

---