A menu of food items for Aotearoa New Zealand at COP27
A menu of food items for Aotearoa New Zealand at COP27
The climate crisis is intrinsically linked with the food crisis - where over 800 million people are hungry; and where one third of GHG emissions arise. In New Zealand, one in five children are hungry - and agricultural emissions make up nearly half of our emissions profile. But, if we are going to halve (global) emissions by 2030, we need to turn these climate and food crises into opportunities. With so much at stake in New Zealand, we have a critical role to play in elevating food solutions this COP27.
Hosted in Egypt’s Sharm-el Sheikh, this year’s COP27 is poised to digest the climate angles of ‘food’. At last year’s COP26 in Glasgow, food was not directly on the table, and while major policy breakthroughs occurred on deforestation, little was said about food consumption. This time round, under the Egyptian Presidency, there will be a day dedicated to ‘Adaptation and Agriculture’ and an initiative called ‘FAST’, focused on food and adaptation. Finally, links between food and climate are being made.
At COP27, there will also be a dedicated Food Systems Pavilion with ten thematic days highlighting the role of food systems transformation to benefit the climate. The Food Systems Pavilion is symbolic because it combines the issues of growing food, feeding people, food loss and waste, and the impacts of health related challenges like nutrition and obesity with climate change. It’s more than just animals and their emissions. It’s now joining the dots that have been for decades, separated and siloed.
For Aotearoa New Zealand, a small country with a strong food identity, what role do we have to play? What actions can we take to show that sustainable food systems are not only possible, but necessary? How can we live up to Prime Minister Ardern’s promise of being the most ‘sustainable food producer in the world’?
1. Thinking and working in a ‘food systems’ way
To be on the international stage, Aotearoa needs to first start thinking and working in a food systems way. Signs of this began last year in the Food System Summit Dialogues, which although criticised for missing out indigenous and small-holder farmer voices, did send signals that internationally, now the food system in its entirety will be considered in international discussions, not just in piecemeal parts. We need to (with the goal of reducing our emissions) consider all parts of our food system, which includes human health, wellbeing, how we grow food, what we grow, who we feed, and how we reduce and eliminate food waste.
2. Progress a National Food Strategy by 2024
Every five years, each country is required to update their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), or climate action plan. In our 2021 NDC, we lack food system targets and fail to mention the need for dietary shifts. Part of the problem is that the government has been chewing on a National Food Strategy for too long. Without a coherent food strategy, New Zealand lacks the policy framework to mobilise consensus behind food system goals, to then take action and reduce emissions across the food system. The voluntary Mana Kai Framework for food systems change is the closest framework we have. At the very least, what’s needed is a date for a National Food Strategy to be set - and government resources pulled to complement existing work, with consultation and clear outcomes for Aotearoa’s food system. Potentially, a dedicated Food Minister, or a cross-Ministerial or departmental group, could also help address existing government silos. Any National Food Strategy also needs to be integrating tangata whenua, adhering to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and incorporating Te Ao Māori.
3. Bring to the international stage our pricing of agricultural emissions
New Zealand has recently announced its split-gas agricultural pricing mechanism and is one of the first countries in the world to do so. By 2025, farmers who meet the threshold for herd size and fertiliser use, will be required to pay a levy. All revenue from the levy will go towards new technology, research and incentive payments to farmers who adopt climate-friendly practices. The government will set this every one to three years, on advice from the Climate Change Commission and farmers. In New Zealand, the pricing mechanism has received criticisms from all angles - from farmers who think it goes too far; and from environmentalists who think an absolute cap on emissions is needed. Even Climate Minister James Shaw has admitted faults in the proposal - suggesting pricing should be set by the independent Climate Commission, rather than at the whim of changing politicians. Nevertheless, the proposal is world-leading and would set New Zealand on track to meet its 2030 methane reduction target. Championing the proposal at COP27, for some international credit (even if this hasn’t been received at home), is advisable.
4. Fill food data gaps
We lack data on the emissions profiles of different food groups from Aotearoa, which is necessary for decision making for policies and also for businesses (and consumers alike) to better understand what their emissions are. This, combined with health data, can help inform a stronger food systems approach to climate change challenges. For example, changing diets can also lead to better health outcomes, savings to the health system, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions (at a consumption level). We also lack data on the real contribution that changing farming to different systems like regenerative agriculture makes and this needs to be improved if regenerative agriculture is going to be seriously considered as a solution to climate change and rock the entrenched agri-business models in Aotearoa New Zealand.
5. Increase research and development, with a boost in the SFFF Fund
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund (SFFF Fund) is a bit of a mouthful - but is scaling innovation in the Aotearoa New Zealand food and fibre sector. About $40M is available each year, but the fund needs a revamp if Aotearoa is to truly become a world leading sustainable food producer. From reducing fruit loss in central Otago, to affirmative action for biodiversity on farms, to next generation aquaculture, this fund is paving the way for a fruitful future. Government needs to raise awareness of the fund, share project success stories on the international stage, and rapidly increase investment to at least $100M a year. The Government could also consider portioning out funding to local government ‘Sustainable Food Funds’, much like it does with the landfill levy through a 50/50 split between central and local government. A lot of food systems are local, and a split funding model could reflect this reality.
6. Show up this COP27
Prime Minister Ardern has skipped COP27 this year. It’s a surprise move when you see Boris Johnson taking a seat at the World Leaders Summit. It’s also surprising when the Prime Minister has recently supported food-related initiatives at home, such as the freshly announced Kai Commitment to reduce food waste among leading food businesses. But Prime Minister Arden’s absence does not mean New Zealand can’t show up at this COP27. First, we need to ensure we have an authentic commitment to taking a food systems approach. Second, Aotearoa New Zealand can show up internationally by joining international food agreements, such as the Climate Agreement on Food and Farming or by becoming an active participant in initiatives like the FABLE Consortium, alongside China, Australia, India and many more other countries, or by endorsing agricultural emissions pricing. Finally, Aotearoa New Zealand can show internationally by taking action at home: announcing a National Strategy; implementing agricultural pricing; and boosting innovation funding. If we achieve these things, Aotearoa New Zealand could truly become the most sustainable food producing nation in the world.
Co-written by Emily King (Food Systems Expert and Director of Spira) and Tessa Vincent (Race to Zero Engagement Lead, Climate Champions)