Ten years ago, world leaders gathered at the COP21 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris and committed, under the Paris Agreement, to keep global average temperatures below 2°C. Since then, climate conversations have gradually expanded from energy and transport to include another critical domain: food systems. The latest report from the EAT-Lancet Commission, published in October this year, warns that even if the world phases out fossil fuels entirely, our current food systems alone could still push global warming beyond 1.5°C. Our food systems are currently responsible for about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
As we head to COP30 in Brazil this month, it’s crucial to look at the impact of our food systems and the ways in which a shift to plant-based diets benefits both human and planetary health. For the last eight years, ProVeg has been present at the COP climate events in order to make sure that food takes center stage in the negotiations. From our very first presence in Bonn at COP23 and our first attendance as an official delegation in Glasgow, to our upcoming attendance in Belém, each conference has marked an important step forward. Here’s a brief history of our progress through the years, and a look at what comes next!
First UN Climate Conferences (COP23, COP24, COP25)
Before being accredited as an official delegation, ProVeg was already actively contributing to food-system discussions at the UN Climate Conferences. In 2017, at COP23 in Bonn, we engaged in events highlighting the role of food in achieving the Paris goals and delivered a petition with over 55,000 signatures urging Germany to address animal agriculture in its climate policies. The next year, at COP24 in Katowice, we showcased innovative food solutions, participated in high-level panels, and presented more than 100,000 petition signatures to the UN, stressing the need for dietary shifts as part of climate actions. In 2019, at COP25 in Madrid, we co-organized a side event on sustainable and healthy food systems and pointed out the high level of emissions from the catering at the event, thereby stressing the importance of aligning climate objectives with food choices.
COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland
The onset of the COVID19 pandemic meant that there was no COP event in 2020, but in 2021, ProVeg hit the ground running in Glasgow, where we launched the ‘Diet Change Not Climate Change’ campaign, with support from companies and NGOs around the world. A major milestone was the introduction of carbon-footprint labels on menus and posters, while digital screens highlighted the climate benefits of plant-based foods. This contributed to almost 40% of purchased meals in the official Blue Zone section of the conference being plant-based, increasing to nearly 60% when vegetarian options were included. ProVeg also handed over a petition with 72,000 signatures that called for world leaders to recognize the climate impact of industrialized animal agriculture.
COP27 in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt
In 2022, ProVeg became the first NGO promoting plant-based diets to gain Observer Status at the IPCC, an important step in influencing policy discussions. ProVeg also co-founded the Food4Climate Pavilion, backed by other partner organizations and designed to host panels on topics such as agricultural resilience, protein diversification, and sustainable consumption. Additionally, ahead of COP27, ProVeg joined 160 NGOs in urging the Egyptian presidency to provide a predominantly plant-based menu, marking a rising focus on food sustainability at these international climate events.
COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
After the launch of the Food4Climate Pavilion at COP27, COP28 led to significant progress in mainstreaming food systems. Working with 15 partner organizations, ProVeg helped to strengthen business and policy commitments toward sustainable food transitions. Catering at the summit set a new bar for climate alignment, with two-thirds of the 250,000 meals served daily being either vegan or vegetarian, and menus labeled with their environmental footprint to support a 2.3 kg CO2e per day ‘food carbon budget’. This represented a pivotal shift in how large-scale events approach food sustainability, and a major advocacy success for our team.
COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
COP29 showed that progress is not always linear. Despite early commitments, plant-based options were limited and sometimes mislabeled, making sustainable choices more challenging for delegates. Our team engaged directly with the COP29 catering staff, and some improvements were implemented in the second week. However, the overall share of plant-based options remained lower than at COP28.
ProVeg continued to advance food-system transformation by joining the Action on Food Hub, a dedicated space at COP where organizations showcase innovative solutions, host discussions, and promote best practices for sustainable and climate-friendly food systems. There, we highlighted the benefits of plant-rich diets and advocated for farmer-focused policy solutions, including better financing and support for transitions to plant-based crops.
COP30 in Belém, Brazil: Looking ahead
This year, we’re heading to COP30 in Belém, where we’re looking forward to bringing food to the center of climate discussions. We spearheaded the creation of the Belém Declaration on Plant-Rich Diets, a global call for national governments to develop and implement Action Plans for Plant-Based Foods. As we head to Brazil, the home of the Amazon rainforest and other vital biomes, addressing the links between deforestation, food security, and biodiversity is more important than ever.
What the delegates eat matters too. This year, the COP Presidency announced that 40% of the food served will be vegan or vegetarian. As the largest sustainability event in the world, COP30’s food choices should ideally reflect local traditions and ingredients, while also prioritizing climate-friendly plant-based options and minimizing waste through thoughtful catering. Backed by our experiences of supporting sustainable menus at large-scale events, we developed the Future Plates catering guide, a powerful tool to help organizers offer meals with a minimal carbon footprint and a positive social impact.
In Brazil, where deforestation for soy and cattle continues to threaten ecosystems, Indigenous communities, and global climate stability, integrating food systems into climate action is crucial. What happens at COP30 will influence the food and climate agenda for years to come.
Don’t forget to follow ProVeg for on-the-ground updates from COP30 in Belém!
Giovanna Diniz
Communications Assistant
