This post was co-authored with Michael Oko

While many people had expected COP29 to be a relatively low-key affair—sandwiched between UAE last year and Brazil next—this turned out not to be the case. The formal agenda focused on the contentious issue of climate finance, while the hallways were bustling with activity, with reportedly 60,000 people attending COP over two weeks.

The formal negotiations concluded with an agreement for high-income countries to provide $300 billion per year to support low-income countries in the transition to a low-carbon future. While it was better than no agreement, the resolution was widely criticized even by the negotiators who had fought so hard to forge it.

For those of us focused on food systems, there were strong signs of progress during the two weeks in Baku. For The Global FoodBanking Network, our attention focuses largely on how to mobilize action to reduce food loss and waste, and with it the associated methane emissions. Because food loss and waste causes as much as 8-10 percent of total greenhouse gases, it represents a major opportunity to reduce emissions. Food banks can play a significant role because the food banking model of collecting and redistributing surplus food helps ensure more of it gets to people, not landfills.

As we reflect on COP29, it’s useful to note that food systems have only really been on the international climate agenda for the past years, going back to COP27 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt. Since then, attention on food systems within the climate agenda has grown, but it’s still early days.

This year, a lot of attention shifted to organic waste, which includes food and other waste that degrades in landfills and releases methane. Because food is one of the biggest contributors to organic waste, it represents one of the largest opportunities to emissions from organic waste. At COP29, 35 countries—together representing 50 percent of waste from organic waste—signed onto the Declaration on Reducing Organic Waste. Signatories committed to launch policies and concrete plans to meet these methane targets. The declaration was developed by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and builds on the Global Methane Pledge, which was announced at COP26. We hope that more countries will commit to join the organic waste reduction declaration and move ahead with national and local action.

Outside of COP, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made a major announcement to tackle global hunger by launching the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative that is already backed by more than 80 countries. In announcing the Alliance, Lula acknowledged that the challenge of food security is “not the result of scarcity or natural phenomenon.” This major global initiative will continue into next year, including at COP30, which is hosted by Brazil. The announcement provided a jolt of energy into the discussions at COP29 and a bridge to COP30, binding together the interconnected issues of food waste, hunger, and climate change on a global scale.

As these developments were taking place, GFN joined with partners WRAP, ReFED, and FareShare UK to host a series of events on food loss and waste in Baku. These sessions focused on a variety of issues, including the importance of national policies to catalyze action, advancements in measuring and managing methane emissions, the connection between FLW and organic waste, and examples of action and progress. We were pleased to be joined by many partners and peer organizations across the food system space, including representatives from Global Methane Hub, ISWA, GAIA, Carbon Mapper, Ikea Foundation, and more. Together, the sessions provided opportunities to share ideas, deepen connections, and make plans for the coming year.

One of the important contributions to these discussions is the new FRAME methodology that GFN released in August, which will help food banks and similar organizations to more holistically and accurately understand emissions reductions that come from recovering and redistributing food. The methodology was piloted in two countries and will be expanded and further road tested in the coming months.

As officials and activists return to their home countries, they will look for opportunities to advance action. We hope that more countries will include food loss and waste in their NDCs, as only 24 countries include food loss and waste in their commitments at this moment. In addition, we expect that President Lula’s announcement will spur additional financing and action on the ground to address the interconnected challenges of hunger, food security, and food waste.

The good news is that we know solutions exist—from new technology and start-ups to smart policies and a growing movement of waste-pickers—and an array of actors are focused on reducing food loss and waste. GFN and our food bank members are playing an important, time-tested role by collecting and redistributing food. We will continue to work with our Network and partners to raise awareness and mobilize action on this agenda in the days and weeks to come.