Highland Council becomes one of the first local authorities to sign up to the global Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration

Highland Council is leading the way by becoming one of the first local authorities in Scotland to join the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration.

The “Declaration” is a pledge and a call to action by sub-national, local and international governments from all over the world to accelerate the development of integrated food policies as a key tool in the fight against climate change.

Its co-benefits include biodiversity, ecosystem regeneration, circularity, access to sustainable and healthy diets for all, and the creation of resilient livelihoods for farm and food workers.

The Declaration brings together all types and sizes of local authorities to speak with a unified voice in renewing their commitments to develop sustainable food policies, promote mechanisms for joined-up action and to call on national governments to put food and farming at the heart of the global response to the climate emergency.

Members of the Climate Change Working Group met today to discuss the ‘Declaration’ and recognised it as an important step forward in Highland Council’s regional climate action journey.

The ‘Declaration’ can be found here.

The rationale behind the ‘Declaration’ is relatively simple; the food system is a significant contributor to carbon emissions - in Scotland.

Agriculture accounts for 26% of total greenhouse gas emissions and emissions related to food and outside the farm gate represents a further 5% to 10%. At a global level, food systems account for 21-37% of total greenhouse gases.

The Declaration also recognises a significant role for sub-national governments in forging pathways to reducing the climate impacts of our food systems: for example, councils can and in many instances already are pioneering integrated food policies with actions in several sectors.

For example: food waste reduction schemes, healthy and sustainable procurement in public canteens, public campaigns to encourage behavioural change towards sustainable diets, provision of food growing opportunities, support to short supply chains and integrated urban food planning.

Chair of the Climate Change Working Group, Cllr Trish Robertson, said: “To achieve sustainable food system transformation, actions must be aligned horizontally across policy areas and vertically between different levels of government.

“Food necessarily touches many different policy areas, and a holistic food system approach facilitates the development of coherent policies at both the local and national level.”

Highland Council Leader, Cllr Margaret Davidson, has signed the ‘Declaration’ and she said: “By signing of the Declaration presents an opportunity for the Council to renew its commitment to tackling climate change and to develop a Good Food Council.

“The pledge which has now been made directly aligns with the principles of the Carbon Management Plan, the Climate Change and Energy Team’s Strategic Control Plan, the Highland Adapts initiative as well as the Council’s draft Food Growing Strategy, Growing Our Future.

“Furthermore, this is an opportunity for the Council to support the work of the Highland Good Food Partnership and demonstrate its commitment to working together across the region.”

In addition, signing the Declaration will enable the Council to raise awareness by sharing information with employees and residents about the impact of food systems on climate change and by encouraging positive behavioural changes in food consumption.

Next steps

By signing the ‘Declaration’ Highland Council has committed to the following:

• Commitment 1 – developing and implementing integrated food policies and strategies;
• Commitment 2 – reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from urban and regional food systems;
• Commitment 3 – calling on national governments to establish supportive and enabling policy frameworks and multi-level and multi-actor governance mechanisms.

It is now proposed that an officer-led working group should be established to map out the work and resources required to deliver against these commitments, in collaboration with the Highland Good Food Partnership.