Food Systems for the Future’s Involvement in Climate Week 2024
Food Systems for the Future (FSF) will actively participate in Climate Week NYC, contributing to discussions on transforming food systems for the benefit of People, Planet, and Prosperity,
Food systems are responsible for approximately a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and a significant driver of biodiversity loss, land and freshwater use. At the same time, climate change increasingly jeopardizes food production and exacerbates food insecurity. FSF’s involvement in Climate Week underscores our commitment to advancing sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems.
At FSF, we are harnessing the power of partnerships, collaboration, and candid dialogue to tackle the pressing crises of food systems and climate change. This Climate Week, we are intensifying our focus on three critical areas: cost-effective MMRV (Monitoring, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) systems for regenerative agriculture; accelerating methane mitigation in the livestock sector to deliver a triple win for dietary choice and nutrition, planetary health, and producers’ livelihoods and resilience; and amplifying awareness of the vital link between climate and nutrition crises. By uniting diverse voices and forging innovative solutions, we are committed to driving transformative change and building a sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for all.
"Climate Week represents a key moment to showcase the transformative power of sustainable food systems in addressing the global climate crisis in the broader global climate conversation," said Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, Founder and CEO of Food Systems for the Future. "We are excited to lead these discussions and collaborate with global stakeholders to drive meaningful change."
Saturday, September 21:
Ambassador Cousin will join the World Leaders Panel at “Food for Humanity: Unlocking the Potential of Universities to End Hunger and Malnutrition”, hosted by Columbia University's Bollinger Convening and World Leaders Forum. This panel will gather global thought leaders to discuss strategies for combating hunger and malnutrition, with the UN projecting that 735 million people will face hunger.
Monday, September 23
Ambassador Cousin will also be a panelist at “Can Livestock Help Solve the Climate Crisis?”—an event organized by Food Tank, and The James Beard Foundation in partnership with The Protein PACT as part of the Climate Week NYC Kick-Off. "Restaurants and Farms are Key Solutions to the Climate Crisis". This discussion will explore the role of livestock in addressing climate change.
Ambassador Cousin will join “BCG Perspectives — Delivering Value with International Cooperation”, hosted by the Boston Consulting Group to highlight international collaboration in addressing global equity challenges. The event will focus on innovative approaches to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhance prosperity through public-private partnerships.
Tuesday, September 24
In collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Food Tank, FSF will host a closed roundtable discussion titled “Co-creating Pathways to a Livestock Future that Delivers a Triple Win for People, Planet, and Shared Prosperity.” This roundtable will delve into strategies to reduce livestock’s climate impact while considering the complex trade-offs for nutrition and livelihoods, informed by insights from a 6-month listening program with industry leaders. The conversation aims to bring together diverse stakeholders across ruminant meat and complementary protein value chains to have a candid dialogue about opportunities for collective action.
Ambassador Cousin will join the “UNGA Roundtable Breakfast on Global Food Security and Nutrition Public-Private Partnership”, hosted by the Eleanor Crook Foundation and the Kyle House Group, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This high-level event will gather leaders from various sectors to discuss global food insecurity and child malnutrition, and to explore innovative solutions to address these pressing issues amid escalating challenges.
Ambassador Cousin will participate in a pivotal roundtable at the Science Summit during the 79th UN General Assembly. The session, "Collaborative Solutions: Funding the UNCCD COP16 Flagship Initiative for Food Security and Sustainable Development," will focus on innovative approaches to combat land degradation in drylands. The discussion will highlight evidence-based solutions for enhancing climate resilience, food security, and livelihoods, and will explore how these solutions can address global challenges like desertification and promote sustainable development at the UN Summit of the Future. You can register to attend virtually or in person here.
We are also pleased to announce that our Impact Director, Meghan O'Hearn, will be attending Climate Week. If you would like to set up a conversation or learn more about FSF's initiatives, please reach out meghan@fsfinstitute.net . We look forward to connecting and exploring how we can work together to advance our shared goals.
Follow FSF on Twitter and LinkedIn for live updates during Climate Week.