PRESS RELEASE

Dubai, 01 December 2023—

Responding to the Emirates Declaration on Food and Farming signed by world leaders at COP28, Patty Fong, Program Director at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, said: 

“The Declaration doesn’t set out how governments will tackle food emissions, and makes no reference to fossil fuels, despite food systems accounting for at least 15% of fossil fuels burned each year—equivalent to the emissions of all EU countries and Russia combined. This is a glaring omission.

“However, the commitment to integrate food and farming into domestic climate action plans is welcome and long overdue. Over 70% of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions lack adequate action on food systems—updating them is where there is real potential to tackle emissions and unlock climate finance.

“Our more than two dozen philanthropic members and other partners around the world are working to catalyze much-needed food system transformation that can help to phase out dependency on polluting fossil fuels in the sector while improving health, community wellbeing, and biodiversity.”

Spokespeople available: 

• Patty Fong, Program Director at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, who will be at COP: patty@futureoffood.org or via WhatsApp: +31 6 2517 9097.
• Anna Lappé, Executive Director at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, who is based in the US; contact via: katie.dominy@digacommunications.com / +44 (0) 7983530990.
• The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is supporting 42 frontline food and farming experts to attend COP. To speak to any of them, contact jenny.briggs@greenhouse.agency / +44(0) 0754 2566437 who will be at COP.

About Global Alliance for the Future of Food

The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is a strategic alliance of philanthropic foundations working together and with others to transform global food systems now and for future generations. We believe in the urgency of transforming global food systems, and in the power of working together and with others to effect positive change. Food systems reform requires new and better solutions at all scales through a systems-level approach and deep collaboration among philanthropy, researchers, grassroots movements, the private sector, farmers and food systems workers, Indigenous Peoples, government, and policymakers.