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Climate Action
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How we can end plastic pollution faster, together During the decades between COP1 and COP28, the climate situation has become — in many ways — worse. Plastic pollution is everywhere; greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production are expected to more than double by 2060.
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n 1995, the same year that the very first United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP1) was held in Berlin, I was pasting pictures of polar bears into a scrapbook and designing posters about recycling for a half-term holiday project. Back then, the true extent and implications of plastic waste and pollution were not well understood. There was no consensus view on how to tackle it at scale. Collaborating for visible progress Today, we have a clear view of how plastic contributes to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Crucially, we can also see a clear path towards a future without plastic waste or pollution. Over the past five years, signatories of the Global Commitment — the largest global voluntary effort to tackle plastic waste and pollution — have proven that progress is possible. Yet, the world remains off track. As every child who has tried to ‘save the planet’ by picking up litter eventually discovers, while voluntary action is vital to show peers what is possible, change
Emma Elobeid Senior Editor, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
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must be enacted through the whole system. We need global rules to create a level playing field, address the problem at the source and ensure that everyone acts in concert. Reduce, reuse and redesign An ambitious UN treaty — based on legally binding global rules and comprehensive circular economy measures — presents a once-ina-generation opportunity. This treaty must focus on substantially reducing our use of plastics, significantly increasing reuse models, and fundamentally redesigning our approach to plastic. We cannot recycle our way out of this. Just weeks before world leaders come together at COP28 in Dubai, governments will meet at the third round of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-3) in Nairobi. As we approach both, let us remember — despite the scale of the challenge — that this isn’t about achieving the impossible but about mandating the solutions we know are possible so that we can move forward further, faster, together.
Stay up-to-date with the latest negotiations for a UN treaty to accelerate the end of plastic pollution: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/aun-treaty-to-end-plastic-pollution
Agriculture and food systems: the missing climate solution? Agriculture and food systems are perhaps our greatest hope to halt the imploding climate crisis. We look to this year’s UN Climate Conference, COP28 as an opportunity to share the many ways that agrifood systems transformation can be a game changer.
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vidence from FAO’s work across countries reveals that agrifood systems are not only about food security but also have the potential to tackle the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. A bleak climate picture Climate change is negatively impacting all sub-sectors in the food system: from declining yields to increases in pests and disease. Up to 10% of the currently suitable area for major crops and livestock is projected to be climatically unsuitable mid-century. Achieving zero hunger in the age of climate change may be considered the central challenge of our times. Emissions from the sector continue to rise, contributing to a crisis that hits the farmers and agricultural communities the hardest. Making a difference at field level FAO’s work presents a range of solutions that can simultaneously address the climate crisis, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience while promoting sustainable use of biodiversity and food security. The International Plant Treaty’s Benefit-sharing Fund has benefited more than 1 million people. Over 200 Farmer Field Schools have been set up to, ultimately, give access to and
Global food systems need to transform. Food processing and packaging has a role to play in this transformation. Discover our commitments, actions and solutions for Moving food forward.
support the development of climate-resilient crops. Since 2006, the organisation’s partnership with the Global Environment Facility has supported over 130 countries to improve the sustainability of their agrifood production and deliver results for the environment. FAOGEF investments over the past four years have placed 116 million hectares of land and seascape under improved management, mitigating 570 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and improving the lives of 13 million people. Accelerating action and ambition Despite united efforts, we still see constraints in sustainable food production, which is why the agrifood sectors play such a key role in national planning processes. COP28 will be a critical juncture, giving greater visibility and momentum to the FAST Partnership, which aims to improve the quantity and quality of climate finance for the transformation of agriculture and food systems.
Kaveh Zahedi Director, FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment
Tackling the ocean crisis to unlock a safer, fairer future Tackling the multiple threats facing the ocean is essential to ensuring a safe and fair future for humanity, according to experts from the University of Exeter.
T Professor Brendan Godley Director, Graduate School of Environment And Sustainability, University of Exeter WRITTEN BY Mark Nicholls
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hreats including climate change, plastic and chemical pollution and overexploitation are complex and interconnected — so, solutions must be holistic, leading to more resilient marine ecosystems. Protecting the ocean will trigger wider positive impacts, such as limiting climate change and providing sustainable food and livelihoods for millions. Teaching the next environmental experts The University of Exeter has more than 300 people working on all aspects of marine research and has launched a graduate school to extend this and train the next generation of environmental experts. “All business and human endeavour is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment,” said Professor Brendan Godley, Director of the new Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall. “If we don’t save the environment, humanity is doomed. So, we need more people working in this area.” Marine protection initiatives The university’s work includes building the evidence to support initiatives such as ‘30x30’ — a global call urging governments and world leaders to significantly increase the level of protection for marine environments to 30% by 2030 — and boosting conservation of habitats ranging from seagrass and mangroves to coral reefs and the seafloor. The university has several groups working on ecotoxicology, the threat from marine plastics and how to inspire people to become part of the solution. “We very much focus on education and our engagement with the public and wider communities on these issues,” Professor Godley said. “We are looking to galvanise interest in stopping the flow of plastics into oceans, but the whole plastics issue has been a catalyst to engaging more people in marine conservation.” Interdisciplinarity in finding solutions The university’s Business School hosts the Exeter Multidisciplinary Plastics Research hub (ExeMPLaR) and the Exeter Centre for Circular Economy. Experts from these groups work closely with colleagues from other fields, developing solutions that will have powerful real-world impacts. “One of our strengths is that we do interdisciplinarity work very well,” Professor Godley said. “For example, it’s
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impossible to disentangle the plastic problem from climate change, so experts from different areas need to consider these problems together. “This interdisciplinarity approach is reflected in our education. Our Penryn Campus in Cornwall focuses extensively on environment and sustainability, and we have now pulled all this together for our environment and sustainability master’s programmes within the graduate school. As a university, we are really trying to make a difference in the world. Education is a crucial part of this, and people at master’s and PhD level also play a key role in driving research.” Driving global climate action Exeter’s education focuses strongly on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the 2030 THE Impact Rankings, the university secured top spot globally for its pioneering research, action and commitment towards clean water and better sanitation (SDG6) and emerged as a leader in Climate Action (SDG13), securing first position in Europe. The high-quality education on offer attracted over 250 students for this year’s Masters programmes in Cornwall, with over a third of them coming from outside the UK. “These are people that could go anywhere in the world but are coming to study with us. It is a source of pride that we are a global beacon attracting the best. These students then go back to their own countries and start making a massive difference.” At the COP28 climate change conference, now underway in Dubai, the university will make a key contribution through projects including the Global Carbon Budget (a comprehensive assessment of emissions). It is also leading the first-ever Global Tipping Points Report, assessing damaging Earth system tipping points — and the potential for ‘positive’ tipping points in our societies and economies.
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Catalysing change: why transforming global food systems plays a critical role in stopping the climate crisis of the sustainability puzzle. We are tackling this by accelerating progress in two important areas. Innovations in food processing technologies are helping us to minimise production losses, transforming low value sidestreams into valuable products, while driving reductions in water and energy use. Alongside this, our aseptic packaging solutions continue to safeguard perishable liquid foods from spoilage, preserving them for up to 12 months and reducing waste.
Food systems are now firmly on the sustainability agenda, and it is easy to see why.
Charles Brand Executive Vice President, Processing Solutions & Equipment, Tetra Pak
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oday, 2.4 billion people lack consistent access to sufficient food,1 while food systems generate a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.2 Perhaps most shockingly, a third of all food produced is wasted.3 With the global population set to increase to 10 billion people by 2050,4 it is clear that current systems are unsustainable, and will only become more so if left unchecked. The food industry requires a transformative shift in sourcing, processing and packaging, to shape more sustainable and resilient global food systems. At Tetra Pak, we regard it as our responsibility to employ the resources at our disposal and we have identified four pathways to achieve tangible progress. A more sustainable dairy industry Dairy is responsible for vital nutrition, countless livelihoods - and a significant 2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.5 A more sustainable dairy industry6 must be established, reducing its environmental footprint while helping smallholder farmers to thrive. Our role in supplying equipment to some of the largest players in the industry, coupled with our technical knowledge, means that
we can drive efficiencies in dairy production. Two key examples are extending the reach of our Dairy Hub programme and collaborating with customers and industry partners as part of the Dairy Processing Task Force, initiated by Tetra Pak in 2023. The search for new food Navigating the dual challenge of feeding a growing population while minimising food systems’ environmental footprint requires us to reimagine the ‘art of the possible’. Collaboration is of the utmost importance here. We are joining forces with a global network of stakeholders from the public, private and academic sectors to pioneer alternative protein sources, with more resourceefficient supply chains.7 Together, we plan to scale up new food technologies like biomass and precision fermentation, helping to make alternative proteins viable at industrial scale. We know that the appetite is there, with our latest Index revealing that consumers are willing to try microbial protein (54%), cultivated meat (54%) and insect protein (41%). Reducing food loss and waste A third of food produced is never consumed,8 making reducing food loss and waste a vital piece
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The role of sustainable packaging Paper-based beverage cartons play a vital role in providing access to safe nutrition on a global scale, but they must do so with minimal environmental impact. These cartons score better on environmental performance than other packaging options (such as PET bottles and glass)9 and are recyclable where collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure is in place, at scale. To improve this further, we are investing in expanding recycling capacity and developing packages that are made with a simplified material structure and increased renewable content. Collaborating to drive change It is only through collaboration at every level that we can achieve the required pace of change. We are committed to playing our part in shaping more efficient, sustainable and resilient food systems, and it is our hope that COP28 marks a new level of dedication from stakeholders around the world to do the same. References 1. Goal 2: Zero Hunger - United Nations Sustainable Development 2. Food systems are responsible for 34% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. (2021), Crippa, M. et al. Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/ s43016-021-00225-9 3. WWF 2022 https://www.saveonethird.org 4. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/population 5. FAO - Climate change and the global dairy cattle sector https://www.fao.org/3/CA2929EN/ ca2929en.pdf 6. Definition: Sustainable dairy is defined as a dairy industry that emits less greenhouse emissions by introducing technologies, equipment and best practices in production and processing to safeguard nutrition security and sustain a billion livelihoods for tomorrow, while helping secure a future for us all. https://globaldairyplatform.com/ sustainability 7. Alternative proteins can play a leading role in the global protein transition by significantly reducing food system emissions while freeing up considerable amounts of land for additional climate mitigation strategies, food security, and protection of biodiversity.” https://gfi.org/ resource/a-global-protein-transition-is-necessaryto-keep-warming-below-1-5c/ 8. WWF 2022 https://www.saveonethird.org 9. 83 g CO2 equivalents per litre (eq/l) compared to 430 g CO2 eq/l for single-use glass bottles, 156 CO2 eq/l for PET bottles and 100 g CO2 eq/l for reusable glass bottles. https://www. beveragecarton.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ ACE-Circular_Analytics_ACE_report.pdf
Find out more at tetrapak.com
For a sustainable future, our workforce needs talented employees with high-value transferable skills to bring innovation and break barriers.
New technologies are enabling patterned solar cells to be integrated into buildings in new ways, such as on balconies. Image provided by Northumbria University
Multidimensional training programme: unlocking green skills for clean growth Training programmes that deliver high-value skills are vital for the UK’s transition to a net zero economy.
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Professor Neil Beattie Professor of Energy Innovation, Northumbria University Director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU)
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chieving net zero is a multidimensional challenge involving a range of social and geopolitical factors and a complex network of stakeholders. It not only spans academic disciplines but also requires innovation, policy development and skills training. Over the last 14 years, Northumbria University’s Professor Neil Beattie, together with colleagues, has led the creation of a thriving ecosystem of research and teaching excellence in the North East of England, merging these elements to generate real-world impact for a sustainable future. Decarbonisation: not just a tech challenge From zero-emissions transportation to sustainable buildings, renewable energy technologies are crucial to meeting our increasing electricity demands while enabling decarbonisation. “Science and engineering skills at all levels are critical, but technology alone will not solve climate change,” says Beattie, Professor of Energy Innovation. “Success in renewables requires a whole systems approach — overlap with areas including policy, consumer behaviour and law is essential. Transitioning to sustainable practices can be challenging for the average consumer if we don’t consider the barriers to adoption. Negotiating the various systems and processes required to install solar panels with battery storage on homes, for example, can be prohibitive for even the most willing to embrace green technologies. “For a sustainable future,
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our workforce needs talented employees with high-value transferable skills to bring innovation and break barriers. We need highly-skilled people who can handle uncertainty, navigate complexity and understand languages of different disciplines, such as marketing, business and design.” That, as Professor Beattie explains, is where Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU) comes in. Training the next generation of clean energy innovators Driven by industry needs, ReNU is a centre for doctoral training between Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham Universities backed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and a strong portfolio of 27 industry partners. The centre equips a pipeline of doctoral graduates with the skills required to drive UK innovation in renewable and sustainable energy. As well as expert guidance from renowned academics at the three universities, ReNU students receive enhanced training to develop business and innovation skills. The four-year course includes an in-built mini MBA, innovation training and projects with industrial clients. “ReNU empowers students to think holistically about the challenge of decarbonisation,” adds Professor Beattie. One innovation being developed within the ReNU team is a project to reimagine solar panels for more aesthetic integration into the built environment. “There is a lot of surface area in the built environment that is unsuitable for traditional solar panels. Through a design-led approach, we are
exploring new capabilities in slotdie coating and inkjet materialsprinting to create patterned solar cells that are unlike anything available today — meaning, they could be seamlessly incorporated into apartment balconies, for example.” Unlocking talent, fostering opportunities One area critical to ReNU’s future is developing equal opportunity and diversity across all of its work. “It’s an area we’re committed to continuously learning about; one that will lead to better innovation and further success. “Innovation plays a central role in tackling climate change. For better innovation, we need more diverse thinking. To address future skills needs, we need to utilise existing talent — by involving people who are not already engaged in the net zero agenda. This may include those looking to upskill or retrain, such as armed forces veterans or career returners. Currently, we’re missing tricks by not accessing all the talent we have in the UK and beyond. We can do more to bridge that gap, which is an exciting opportunity. “Research shows that companies with better diversity and inclusion are more profitable. While economic development is clearly a driver, the link between better diversity and inclusion and sustainability is underexplored. Not only should we be focusing efforts in this area to ensure a fair and equitable energy transition, but also because it will undoubtedly result in better innovation and solutions to the toughest problems,” insists Professor Beattie.
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