Agroecology and Climate Justice: A People’s Guide to Paris and Beyond

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that industrial agribusiness is a primary driver of climate change and social inequality, advocating for agroecology and food sovereignty as sustainable alternatives. It specifically critiques 'Climate Smart Agriculture' (CSA) as a corporate-led 'false solution' that greenwashes industrial practices without challenging the underlying economic systems.

• Industrial-scale agriculture is a major contributor to climate change. While formal estimates placed its responsibility for anthropogenic global greenhouse gas emissions at 11% in 2010, a broader accounting including chemical inputs, meat industry expansion, deforestation for commodities, and food logistics estimates the figure is closer to 50%.
• Industrial food production causes significant environmental and social harm, including the destruction of soil fertility, contamination of water sources, and the depletion of fisheries. It also facilitates 'land grabbing' by corporations, which displaces small-scale producers and increases social inequalities.
• Agroecology is presented as a viable solution for climate mitigation and adaptation. It focuses on building soil life, recycling nutrients, and managing biodiversity without using agrotoxins, artificial hormones, or genetically modified organisms. Small-scale farming already feeds 70% of the global population.
• The document characterizes 'Climate Smart Agriculture' (CSA) as a 'false solution' and a marketing tool used by governments and corporations to validate industrial agriculture. It argues that CSA 'greenwashes' damaging activities and fails to question the need for increased food production or the existing industrial model.
• Major corporations and industry bodies are involved in the promotion of CSA, including Syngenta, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, Walmart, Yara, the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), and the Global Biotechnology Transfer Foundation. The document notes that Monsanto claims GM agriculture is climate smart, despite a lack of useful climate-related traits produced after nearly four decades of research.
• Women are the majority of small-scale food producers but face systemic denial of access to land and financial or technical assistance. Friends of the Earth International supports subsistence women farmers in countries such as Ghana, Malaysia, Togo, and El Salvador through training in composting, agroforestry, and seed banks.
• The document highlights specific regional efforts to protect indigenous seeds and traditional knowledge, such as the Native Seeds Network in Uruguay and initiatives by Friends of the Earth Uganda to establish seed banks.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2015). Agroecology and Climate Justice: A People’s Guide to Paris and Beyond. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Agroecology-and-Climate-Justice-EN.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Agroecology and Climate Justice: A People’s Guide to Paris and Beyond. 2015. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Agroecology-and-Climate-Justice-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=Agroecology and Climate Justice: A People’s Guide to Paris and Beyond |date=13 November 2015 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Agroecology-and-Climate-Justice-EN.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2015agroecology, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Agroecology and Climate Justice: A People’s Guide to Paris and Beyond}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2015}, month = nov, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Agroecology-and-Climate-Justice-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }