Food Giants Pledge Support For Paris Climate Change Agreement

After President-elect Donald Trump called global warming a Chinese "hoax," it seems that food manufacturers think otherwise. Several food giants have aired their pledge to support the Paris Climate Change Agreement to fight and curb global warming.

Despite the ongoing debates on whether global warming is caused by humans or not, many countries have supported the move to stem the predicament by cutting down greenhouse emissions in their respective locations. Now, a coalition of food industry giants including Danone, Unilever, Mars and Kellog pledged to redouble their efforts in combating carbon emissions.

Improve Food Security And Protect The Environment

The 10 companies, completed by Clif Bar, Fetzer Vineyards, Ben & Jerry's, Stonyfield and New Belgium Brewing, said they will make lasting changes in their businesses to improve food security and at the same time protect the environment.

The companies said the food industry is under pressure because, with the increasing demands for food (an estimated population of 9 billion by 2050), they need to manage agriculture and land use change, which accounts for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.

"The clock is ticking and it is time to make real and lasting changes to how we do business. As some of the world's largest food companies, we have the scale to make a difference. We will do our part and we ask that governments and civil society continue to work with us in achieving both food and climate security," the food industry companies said in a statement released at the COP22 in Marrakech.

"Today we pledge to the leaders of COP22 and to the rest of the world to re-double our efforts in each of the areas identified to support the ongoing implementation of the Paris Agreement," they added.

There are 14 signatories to the letter, including four other companies like Coca-Cola, Hershey, Nestlé USA and The Hain Celestial Group.

The systemic change needed in the food industry is to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture, cut food loss and waste, promote better nutrition and sustainable diets and improve the livelihoods and resilience of smallholder farmers.