In a groundbreaking development, more than 130 countries have pledged to tackle the significant contribution of food and agriculture to climate change. The commitment was made on the second day of the United Nations climate summit COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Leaders from around the world, including King Charles, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change before it becomes irreversible. Food production is responsible for one-third of the warming gases that contribute to the rise in global temperatures.

The Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action has received widespread praise from experts and charitable organizations, who believe that this acknowledgment and commitment are long overdue. The declaration encompasses countries that represent a staggering 5.7 billion people and contribute to 75% of all emissions from global food production and consumption.

At the heart of this commitment is the recognition that nations must now include food emissions in their plans to combat climate change, known as Nationally Determined Contributions. Leading emitters such as the United States, China, the European Union, and the United Kingdom – which have some of the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita from food – have all pledged their support by signing the declaration.

Edward Davey, the head of the research group World Resources Institute UK, hailed the declaration as a powerful signal to the world that urgent action is required to transition the global food system towards sustainability and resilience. While debates often revolve around the need to reduce meat and dairy consumption, research has shown that a diet high in animal products can produce as much as 10.24 kg of greenhouse gases per day.

Moreover, as food prices continue to rise globally, there is growing concern about how climate change-induced weather unpredictability could further exacerbate these costs. This realization has prompted leaders of global organizations representing farmers to cautiously welcome the declaration. Esther Penunian, head of the Asian Farmers' Association, representing 13 million farmers, described it as a "major milestone" but stressed the need for increased climate finance to assist small farmers who are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.

The impact of climate change on agriculture was poignantly illustrated by Brazilian farmer Karina Gonçalves David. She highlighted how the record heatwave and floods experienced in Brazil in November have adversely affected farmers, with excess rain causing crop damage and stagnation. Therefore, the attention now being given to the agricultural sector by world leaders is a significant step forward.

The announcement of this commitment by the United Arab Emirates, host of COP28, coincided with world leaders addressing the conference and pledging renewed efforts to combat climate change. King Charles emphasized the alarming pace at which climate change is occurring, with this year confirmed as the hottest on record.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will host the talks in two years' time, called for concrete actions in response to the devastating droughts affecting the Amazon region. The urgency of climate action was further highlighted by the accusations leveled against the United Kingdom for slowing down progress in combating climate change since major policy changes were announced in September.

This commitment to address food's role in climate change marks a significant milestone in global efforts to combat this pressing issue. It is hoped that this declaration will spur nations into comprehensive action, not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector but also promoting sustainable and resilient food systems for a better future.