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Abstract:
Climate change affects the
functioning of all the components of food
systems, often in ways that exacerbate
existing predicaments and inequalities
between regions of the world and groups in
society. At the same time, food systems are
a major cause for climate change,
accounting for a third of all greenhouse gas
emissions. Therefore, food systems can
and should play a much bigger role in
climate policies. This policy brief highlights
nine actions points for climate change
adaptation and mitigation in the food
systems. The policy brief shows that
numerous practices, technologies,
knowledge and social capital already exist
for climate action in the food systems, with
multiple synergies with other important
goals such as the conservation of
biodiversity, safeguarding of ecosystem
services, sustainable land management
and reducing social and gender
inequalities. Many of these solutions are
presently being applied at local scales
around the world, even if not at sufficient
levels. Hence, the major effort for
unleashing their potential would involve
overcoming various technical, political-
economic and structural barriers for their
much wider application. Some other
solutions require research and
development investments now but focus
on helping us meet the longer-term
challenges of climate change on food
systems in the second half of this century
when most existing food production
practices will face unprecedented
challenges. In the short term, these pro-
poor policy changes and support systems
can create a range of positive changes well
beyond food systems without delay. In the
long-term, investments in research will
help ensure food security and ecosystem
integrity for coming generations.
