A Joint Declaration
At this year’s C40 World Mayors Summit, many of the mayors supported a joint declaration calling for more organic, climate-friendly, and healthier meals in public institutions and public life. The declaration, ‘Good Food Cities: Achieving a Planetary Health Diet for All‘ lays out goals and actions for reducing climate impacts caused by the food sector, ensuring sufficient food quantities for all, and expanding sustainable food production. Solutions include:
- More plant-based diets,
- A 50% reduction in food waste, and
- Buying from organic farmers – cities will lead the way through their own food purchasing programs
“We are pleased that organic farming has been included in the latest C40 climate declaration. Organic agriculture is a solution to the climate crisis and can help us achieve many Sustainable Development Goals. It draws down more CO2 from the atmosphere, creates climate-robust soil, and increases drought resilience. Organic food and farming also helps us stay within planetary boundaries. We will support C40 cities in the transition to sustainable food and climate action.”
Louise Luttikholt, Executive Director, IFOAM - Organics International
Danish Case in Focus
Over 90% of food in Copenhagen’s city kitchens, from childcare centers to schools and retirement homes is now organic. Denmark has also transitioned its hospitals, large private workplaces, and military barracks to healthier, organic and climate-friendly meals. The country’s organic food and farming policies won the 2018 silver Future Policy Award.
- A transition to organic, climate-friendly and healthier food with less meat, more plant-based meals, and a deep drop in food waste was achieved by investing in the re-education of public kitchen workers. These workers are driving Denmark’s sustainable transition through focusing on making real food from fresh organic, plant-based, seasonal food, says Paul Holmbeck, Political Director in Organic Denmark. Organic Denmark strives to unite organic farmers, consumers, companies, and food professionals.
- Denmark is also creating climate-friendly, organic food on the same budget— they save through less waste and less meat. The pride is tremendous and well deserved. The country works together from farm to table.
Driving Organic Change
Organic food policy can drive sustainable change, for climate, biodiversity, health, job creation, clean water, and many other UN sustainability goals. But we have to act.
“We can be global leaders and develop food systems that are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient, which accelerates our progress to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Where our city governments directly purchase food that is served in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions, we will ensure those meals are healthy and sustainable and ideally sourced from organic agriculture.”
