By Faridat Salifu
Global experts, policymakers, and climate advocates have intensified calls for urgent reforms to food systems as part of broader climate action, spotlighting food and agriculture as critical levers for resilience at the 2025 London Climate Action Week (LCAW).
Held under the theme “Financing Inclusive and Resilient Climate Transition,” the event featured a wide array of sessions focused on how food choices, farming practices, and agrifood governance can align with the 1.5°C climate target.
One key session, “The Food & Climate: Levers for Change,” hosted by ProVeg UK, demonstrated how minor dietary shifts in schools and public institutions can significantly reduce emissions while improving health outcomes.
Other discussions zeroed in on equity and labour rights within food systems, including “Just Transitions in Food, Farming and Fisheries,” organised by IIED, the Ethical Trading Initiative, and Banana Link.
Speakers emphasised the need for fair transitions that protect the rights of food workers as agriculture and aquaculture adapt to climate demands.
A roundtable titled “Crisis as Catalyst: Rewiring Food and Climate Action,” led by Duncan Williamson of IIED, tackled the systemic underfunding of food system transformation despite agrifood sectors accounting for 10% of global GDP in hidden costs.
Participants urged development banks and policy institutions to rethink funding models and governance tools in preparation for COP30.
A session by EIT Food and Regen House, “Regenerative Food Systems: Scaling Impact from Soil to Shelf,” used storytelling to bring farmer experiences into focus and build inclusive visions for climate-responsive food systems.
The financial dimension was also explored in “Financing Regenerative Agriculture at Scale,” convened by OP2B and Diageo, where panellists highlighted how regenerative farming can unlock long-term, impact-oriented investment.
The food-climate discussions closed with a panel at the Wellcome Trust titled “How Food System Businesses Can Deliver Co-Benefits for Climate and Health,” offering strategies for companies to lower emissions while promoting healthier diets.
Collectively, the sessions pointed to the need for bold investment, inclusive governance, and private sector accountability to transform food systems in ways that serve both people and the planet.