Getting Started

The document outlines the reciprocal relationship between food systems and climate change, noting that agriculture and food systems contribute 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It encourages journalists to move beyond 'problem' stories by highlighting systemic solutions, such as regenerative agriculture and the reduction of food waste, while emphasizing the importance of climate justice and the role of women in agriculture. The guide specifically highlights the impact of industrial agriculture, the vulnerability of global food systems exacerbated by conflict and pandemics, and the critical need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to maintain food security.

• Agriculture and food systems are responsible for approximately 31% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are divided into crop and livestock production (43.6%), supply chain processes (35.2%), and land use, including peatland degradation and deforestation (21.2%).
• Between 1990 and 2019, emissions from food and agriculture rose by 17%. Agriculture now accounts for nearly half of all human-caused methane emissions, a gas that is 83 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
• The five largest contributors to agricultural and food greenhouse gas emissions are China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and the United States, in that order.
• Roughly one-third of all food is wasted globally. In wealthier regions, waste primarily occurs during processing, distribution, and consumption; in poorer regions, it is mostly due to improper handling and lack of refrigeration.
• Industrial agricultural practices contribute to climate change by degrading soil through nutrient stripping, salination, and compaction. This reduces the soil's ability to sequester carbon and hold water, which increases the likelihood of both flooding and drought.
• The global food system is characterized by high corporate concentration, with just four companies controlling 90% of the global grain trade as of May 2022.
• Women play a significant role in agricultural labor, providing an average of 43% of total labor in non-industrialized nations and 36% of farming in the United States.

APA

CCNow (2022). Getting Started. Covering Climate Now. https://coveringclimatenow.org/resource/food-water/

Chicago

CCNow. Getting Started. Covering Climate Now, 2022. https://coveringclimatenow.org/resource/food-water/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CCNow |title=Getting Started |publisher=Covering Climate Now |date=26 May 2022 |url=https://coveringclimatenow.org/resource/food-water/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ccnow2022getting, author = {CCNow}, title = {{Getting Started}}, institution = {Covering Climate Now}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://coveringclimatenow.org/resource/food-water/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }