Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change: Food Systems, Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, and Health

The Global Climate and Health Alliance outlines the critical links between industrial food systems, fossil fuel reliance, and adverse health outcomes. It highlights how the industrialization of agriculture contributes to 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions and drives a 'global syndemic' of obesity and undernutrition. The document emphasizes the role of fossil-fuel-derived agrochemicals and plastics in promoting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and biodiversity loss. To address these crises, the Alliance recommends establishing sustainable dietary guidelines, decarbonizing food processing and transport, adopting agroecological practices, and eliminating subsidies for harmful industrial agricultural practices.

• Food systems are a primary driver of climate change, contributing approximately 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While direct production and land use account for 20% of these emissions, the remaining 80% stem from processing, packaging, retail, consumption, and waste.
• The industrialization of food systems and climate change have created a 'global syndemic' where obesity and undernutrition coexist. Approximately 2 billion people are obese and another 2 billion lack access to healthy, nutritious food. In 2024, 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, with 828 million facing severe food insecurity and undernutrition.
• Fossil fuel companies are shifting investments toward petrochemicals for plastics and agrochemicals as demand for transport and heating fuels declines. Governments provide over $670 billion in annual direct subsidies for agriculture and fisheries that support these fossil fuel-dependent practices, with total direct and indirect subsidies reaching several trillion US dollars per year.
• Industrial agriculture contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through the massive use of antibiotics in livestock—consuming at least two-thirds of all antibiotics by volume—and the accumulation of microplastics and pesticides derived from fossil fuels.
• The document recommends a shift toward 'planetary health diets' and agroecology to mitigate climate and health risks. Specific suggestions include prioritizing plant-rich diets, reducing ultra-processed foods (which are 2-10 times more energy intensive than whole foods), and implementing front-of-package warning labels on unhealthy products.

APA

Global Climate and Health Alliance (2026). Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change: Food Systems, Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, and Health. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GCHA-Food-Systems-Climate-Health-Submission_30January2026.pdf

Chicago

Global Climate and Health Alliance. Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change: Food Systems, Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, and Health. 2026. https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GCHA-Food-Systems-Climate-Health-Submission_30January2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Climate and Health Alliance |title=Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change: Food Systems, Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, and Health |date=30 January 2026 |url=https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GCHA-Food-Systems-Climate-Health-Submission_30January2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalclimateandhealthalliance2026submission, author = {{Global Climate and Health Alliance}}, title = {{Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change: Food Systems, Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, and Health}}, institution = {Global Climate and Health Alliance}, year = {2026}, month = jan, url = {https://climateandhealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/GCHA-Food-Systems-Climate-Health-Submission_30January2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }