What Copenhagen means for us: Climate Challenges for the food sector

This report is the result of the Business Forum Meeting, 15 September 2009 held by the Food Ethics Council that sought to explore the potential implications of a Copenhagen agreement on the food and agriculture sector.
The key points that emerged from the discussion are as follows:

• At the Copenhagen conference, countries will try to agree targets for reducing GHG emissions after 2012.
• Scientists suggest that rich countries should make cuts of 25-40% on 1990 levels by 2020.
• Other key issues at Copenhagen will include how far poorer countries will limit growth in emissions and how mitigation and adaptation should be financed.
• A deal is more likely to be reached during 2010 than at the conference itself.
• Agriculture is at the heart of the climate debate because it directly accounts for 10-14% of global emissions, with a further 6-17% arising from land use changes driven by agriculture.
• In the short term, Copenhagen will have few direct implications for UK food businesses but a successful deal for sustainable development is likely to result in higher medium term regulatory costs and lower long term risks to supply.
• Some UK food businesses may see strategic opportunities in climate change, but it is important to keep sight of the serious threat it poses to the smallholders and poor urban consumers who make up most of the world's population.
• Larger businesses want policy makers to provide a predictable regulatory environment, while policy makers look to businesses to strengthen their mandate.
• Underpinning debates about climate policy are deep rooted questions about how to allocate responsibility for environmental harm, and how to prevent economic growth from outstripping gains in efficiency.