The Beginnings of the Campaign

Why and how Food@COP started

During COP25, in Madrid in 2019, a group of likeminded attendees observed a disillusioning contrast between the vision of the event and the food that was served. Catering at the previous year’s COP alone had the potential to contribute greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 3,000 people flying across the world from New York to Katowice. Coming together under the conviction that the food served at these events must ‘walk the talk’, Food@COP was born.

What we’ve done so far

Since its inception, Food@COP has grown into a coalition of more than 120 organisations as well as individuals and networks. Through outreach, virtual events, international social media campaigns, and conversations with primary stakeholders, the campaign is creating a critical space for dialogue surrounding food-systems reform and the role of young people. 

Our #FoodForOurFuture video campaign in 2020 invited youth from around the world to contribute videos in their native languages, articulating their support for our campaign. The response was overwhelming, with 55 youth voices spanning 26 countries. 

Our first webinar, The Food Forum, presented a panel of inspiring youth leaders in the climate and food systems spheres to commemorate World Food Day. At London Climate Action Week, we had the honour of featuring Right Livelihood Laureate Lottie Cunningham Wren. Lottie shared her inspiring story as an environmentalist and Indigenous rights activist in Nicaragua, expressing deep concerns about the meat industry’s role in displacing Indigenous communities and damaging the local environment.

Food@COP is working on more international campaigns in order to continue building its audience and support network. They aim to organise more virtual dialogues with the myriad voices in the food-systems sphere that usually go unheard: from farmers, Indigenous peoples, and frontline communities impacted by animal agriculture to businesses and research institutions in the field. Increased media coverage is another critical goal to bring more attention to climate-friendly food. They also hope to host a side event or Green Zone booth at the next COP. Meanwhile, the petition continues to grow, with more than 4,200 signatures so far.