Food system transformation for climate action

Toshihiro Hasegawa, Rachel Bezner Kerr and Helen Gurney-Smith

Chapter 16 in The Elgar Companion to Food System Transformation for Sustainable Development, 2026, pp 222-237 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Climate change, including the increasing frequency and magnitude of climate extremes, has already negatively impacted food systems. Adaptation is ongoing but is insufficient to address current and future risks. Radical cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary, including from food systems, which account for ~30 per cent of total anthropogenic emissions. Climate action that ignores ecosystem functions and equity can exacerbate the adverse effects of climate change. In contrast, transformational and inclusive approaches can enhance resilience while providing multiple benefits. This chapter covers adaptation options that can improve food production sustainability, reduce vulnerabilities, and benefit ecosystem health. Societal demand-side transformations, such as dietary change, are discussed, as are risks of maladaptation and strategies to avoid it. The chapter also covers the role of food systems in greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential of land and ocean systems to sequester carbon. Finally, it discusses pathways to increase climate resilience of food systems.

Keywords: Adaptation; Climate Hazards; Climate-resilient Development; Dietary Shift; Food Security and Nutrition; Mitigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035332847
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