Cambridge Sustainable Food at COP26

Last month our Director Sam Dyer headed to the COP26 climate change summit with Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Sustainable Food and Community Wellbeing Alex Collis to attend the launch of the Glasgow Declaration. This called on global leaders to sit up and listen in the face of climate change and put integrated food systems at the heart of our response to keep global temperatures below 1.5 degrees. With food accounting for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, we believe that it’s crucial that we all play our part in being part of the solution that ensures food is good for us and good for the planet.

Over the weekend Sam shared her and Alex’s thoughts on our social channels about the importance of incorporating food within climate discussions and the pressing need to work together to create sustainable and equitable food systems for all:

"We want to see food waste, climate diets and sustainable food systems at the top of the COP26 agenda. World leaders need to sit up and take notice.” Executive Councillor Alex Collis

On the Saturday Alex Collis, representing Cambridge City Council, alongside over 100 subnational governments across the globe, took a stand where national governments have not. Together we committed to implementing integrated food policies and strategies; reducing emissions through food, and calling on these national governments to take notice and action. 

Sam and Alex heading up to COP26 in Glasgow

Executive Councillor Alex Collis at the presentation of the Glasgow Declaration

In an interview with Cambridge 105 Sam reflected on her time at the climate summit. Describing the experience as like a tale of two cities, Sam found that Glasgow was a vibrant gathering of forward thinking people from all over the world. However the location of the global leaders - that was unknown. This sentiment was reflected in the progress that has been made at COP26, with sub nationally and at a city level great strides having been made, such as the signing of the Glasgow Declaration, but Sam is uncertain of how seriously food has been taken by national governments and on a global level.

National and global leaders turning a blind eye to the imperative of incorporating food systems within climate discussions was evident at COP26, with there being no dedicated day for agriculture or food and all talks of dietary transition severely lacking. This has also been seen in the UK’s Government's attitudes to reaching Net Zero, where just 2 weeks before the climate conference they backed out of publishing their ‘nudge unit’ report highlighting the need for “effective diet-related policy.

While COP was missing vital opportunities to open up needed food and climate related discussions, this did not deter us from taking to the streets as part of the Global Day of Action to raise awareness of the role food plays in the climate crisis. It was heartening to see so many people from Cambridge and across the world get involved, calling for this needed climate action. Along the way Cambridge Sustainable Food shared the message of our Eat for our Future campaign, highlighting how we can all make a big difference to the planet by choosing climate-friendly options.

When asked by Cambridge radio105 the one thing people can do at home to make a difference have an impact, Sam’s answer was clear; eat less meat and dairy. With over 50% of the emissions attributed to the food system a result of animal agriculture, dietary change will play a key role in tackling the climate crisis. 

Our ongoing Eat for our Future campaign highlights the importance of local food systems and our choices in tackling climate breakdown, helping the people of Cambridge be part of the solution through their daily diet. Post COP26 it’s important to remember that climate action needs to happen on all scales, and that we can play a vital part in tackling climate change by the food systems we support and the food we eat.

Make a difference - take our climate diet pledge as an individual or business here. 

You can access the whole radio interview here to hear in more detail about Sam’s time at COP26.