Launch of the Global Action Platform on Sustainable Consumption and Diets

Food systems are the largest cause of environmental degradation and human health problems. Food production uses about 40% of land and 70% of freshwater withdrawals, is the main driver of biodiversity loss, is responsible for about 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and is the main risk for morbidity and mortality. These facts are well documented in scientific literature, yet other than in the UN Food Systems Summit, food is not a priority discussion item or negotiation topic at major summits. Furthermore, discussions that do take place tend to focus on changing food production. But we can’t rely on nature-positive production alone – to feed a growing population within planetary boundaries we also need to reduce food loss and waste and transform our diets. Changing what we eat plays a major role in achieving SDGs.

To start connecting the dots, WWF launched the Global Action Platform on Sustainable Consumption and Diets. This platform convenes key stakeholders who are working on food systems transformation to build a coalition committed to maximizing collective impact during the Super Year of Food. Over the course of the next several months, the Action Platform will discuss strategies and coordinate action before and during the key summits ahead.

The platform draws together a variety of stakeholders, representing numerous organisations and civil society. In parallel to the virtual meetings that have focus topics each and are geared specifically to upcoming important global conferences, articles produced by several members of the group are published.

The platform has thus been setup to serve as a bridge between the various relevant international events and the community of practice on topics of sustainable consumption and diets.