manchester foe logo

When Tesco can’t import chocolate will the Government wake up to climate change?

A the Warsaw climate talks, would it take chocolate-less-ness to deliver the big climate action needed? It’s a flippant headline (though chocolate supplies could be threatened by climate change*) but I do wonder what will deliver the big political muscle needed to tackle climate change.

As the second week of the Warsaw Climate summit rolls towards its finale, the impact of climate change on food production has had a little bit of attention. Sadly, it was thousands of hectares of Philippine farmland destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan which reminded delegates of how climate chaos can and will affect food supplies. But Farmer groups are concerned that food production is being sidelined and the climate Work Programme on agriculture seems to be in stalemate.

This is not sensible. A forthcoming UNFCCC report, leaked in October, reveals how the changing climate will potentially cost us a huge chunk of staple food production capacity – up to 2% per decade for the next 100 years. And it’s going to happen sooner than we thought.

Unless we act fast and hard on diets and climate change, when it’s combined with likely dietary shifts and population growth, the consequences of this crop loss are dramatic – more land and water grabs, destabilised nations, food riots, migration, starvation, and so on.

Yes but what about the chocolate?

In the UK we may have the odd headline about looming chocolate disasters or wine-less shelves. But in reality it could get a lot worse. The predictions for impacts on farming here (more unstable climate, flooding, loss of farmland to sea level rise and so on) are bad; and in the UK we’re not focussing enough on adaptation to existing and future threats – as a recent Committee on Climate Change Adaptation report highlights.

But we also rely heavily on overseas supplies for our food; around 40% in fact.  And as the leaked UNFCCC report suggests, future global food production is not secure.

The price is not right

Food prices will rise as Professor Tim Benton, UK food security expert recently pointed out. That’s scary for the UK food sector which prides itself on its low price, high volume approach. But to keep a supply of chocolate coming into the UK, it needs to be part of the solution; cutting their own emissions hard, helping their customers to do so as well and dealing fairly with farmers.

Helpfully, the UK grocery research body, IGD recently brought out a ‘Securing future food supplies’  guide which stated that  food ‘supply can no longer be taken for granted and planning ahead is essential’. Of the 19 sections on supply risks, climate change was section 4. The results of strong global climate action will be that we in the UK have to eat differently, as high carbon foods would be pricier. But we will still be able to eat.

Let them eat something

As ever, it is those poorest off who suffer. In developing countries, climate change and other poverty-inducing policies already mean many people starve. Agriculture production is already changed.

We need equitable compensation by richer nations – who, let’s face it, have done all the polluting – to help countries already badly affected by climate impact.  A fair Loss and Damage agreement would mean these countries have resources to adapt their food systems and repair the damage already done.

But we need more. If Tesco becomes a chocolate-free zone, or, more importantly, can’t import wheat, that may push politicians into action. But it will be too late. Please demand far stronger action by reluctant governments in Warsaw – for ambitious reduction targets and for a big boost to renewable energy and efficiency.

And join in the sustainable diets debate on the Friends of the Earth hubs pages

*half of the world’s cocoa comes from Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire where temperatures are forecast to rise by 2.3 degrees Celsius by mid-century – affecting cocoa breeding so production will plummet and prices will rise.

Blog post by Vicki Hird, 19 November 2013. Subscribe to this blog by email using Google’s subscription service

Find us on

Facebook

Support Us

Donate or join us using a standing order or PayPal.

Twitter @foemcr