Author: Maha Khan
I attended the panel discussion on the State of Global Action on Food and Climate Justice with speakers, Anna Lappé, Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Dee Woods, Jyoti Fernandes, and Sabrina Espeleta, chaired by Nicole Pita. An incredible line-up of passionate speakers assessing the current state of affairs and sharing their optimism and realism about the future of a just transition in food and farming.
The Processes are Breaking Down
There is no doubt that we are losing trust in multilateral organisations such as UNFCCC COP to push forward the solutions we need. We are not closer to realising our aims of reducing global emissions. COP30, with no real power in decision making, was unable to stand up against powerful politicians deciding not to prioritise climate change on the global agenda. Media attention on climate change is waning and instead its focus is shifting towards “dangerous distractions and false solutions”.
But as we criticise and witness the breakdown of established processes, we are also promoting the need and creating a window for civil society movements to get organised. The People’s Summit was an excellent example of this in bringing silenced voices together in resistance. While COP30 failed in many ways, it was also a success in allowing the convergence of so many diverse peoples and different movements. These parallel autonomous spaces are spurred on by what is so drastically lacking. Jyoti and Dee attended COP last year and were hopeful about this, emphasising that civil societies and social initiatives need to get smarter and be more engaged as earth defenders. Although there is some debate as to whether it’s worth attending conferences such as COP due to the costs of entry and disappointing outcomes, there is still value in knowing what’s going on, and much campaigning was still happening inside.
Language Matters
Food systems are both the culprit and the victim of climate degradation and inequality, and there is work being planned to undo the damages. Terms like climate justice and just transition are being used more often in discussion around sustainability too, but Barbara warned that language matters and can often be used as a distraction. Buzzwords and false solutions can be floated around superficially, designed to confuse, while agendas and processes don’t meaningfully change. Carbon credits are an example of a scheme that promised change, but little real impact came out of those initiatives.
Nicole asked the panellists if they felt like the needle was moving in the direction of progress and the response was optimistic and encouraging. It’s easy to get caught up in the language of bureaucracy and feel disheartened by the seeming lack of change, but Barbara reminded us that her experience on the ground doesn’t feel like that. Small-scale change is happening, it’s just not being reported on. We may want the needle to move from 0 to 100, but we also need to champion the incremental wins, the people getting lost in translation, and their stories need to be shared. She suggested distributing catalogues of success stories on social media to help change the language to be positive instead of negative.
Connecting with the People on the Ground
It was clear from the discussion that more focus needs to be placed on the ground, embedded in the grassroots movements of the people. Those most affected by climate change and most reliant on agriculture are least likely to have a voice or be represented. Anna told us that we’re up against so many forces but we shouldn’t give up momentum and philanthropy can play a vital role in partnering with civil society. Agroecology needs to be recognised in adaptation and the evidence is clearer than ever. The narrative is shifting and we have a deeper understanding of sustainable practices, but the funding and investment needs to follow this progress.
It’s important for people to think about how they can come together to hold governments and corporations to account while also modelling the world we want to live in. Money, policy, and equity are elemental to unlocking a better future, especially as we live in a world where access to food can be weaponised. Being critical and staying alert is key too, as Dee was quick to point out. We should be aware of what is happening and be participating ourselves and be asking the right questions.
Jyoti brought the discussion to a powerful conclusion by pointing out how we need to think collectively, to see ourselves as an organism, weaving ourselves into the ecosystem and be uplifted by our movement. By focussing on courage instead of despair, we can mimic nature as it flourishes where it can. ORFC is a bright light in reminding us how interconnected we all are: there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and we have to listen and learn from each other.
About the author: Maha is a Food Security and Development Masters Student at the University of Reading, with a background in Journalism. Find her on socials at @mahamakes
To learn more, check out this session in the ORFC archives.
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