Our Vision: A new, positive relationship between people and the environment.

London’s food in the spotlight: five ways to reduce the capital’s foodprint Vicki Hird – Land Use Food and Water Security Programme Twitter

London’s food footprint What needs to happen – five ideas Local activities

What is the foodprint? Climate & energy plus Transport Water Health Land Justice Poverty Jobs - £16 billion a year and employs more than 300,000 Londoners

GHG emissions Total GHG of London Food 2008 Climate Change Action Plan estimates that London is responsible for some 44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Of that over 18.7 million is from food production and consumption. Co2, Methane, Nitrous oxides Main issues for London’s footprint: housing – mainly electricity and fuel use food – fruit and vegetables, and catering services.

Already hitting 400ppm. It’s affecting everyone already. But some more than others….

Idea 1: Measure it ‘if you can measure it you can’t change it’ – Businesses, councils, families – find best way to assess impact – can be low key, rough or more formal, precise – Look to ways to reduce the numbers Set achievable targets for personal,, community action Friends of the Earth Footrpint work and climate change campaigns

Oxford measures Food is responsible for around 20% of Oxford’s greenhouse gas emissions and Oxford is almost entirely dependent on centralised food distribution systems. Feeding Oxford’s population of 150,000 people requires a total of 53,000 hectares (530km2) of agricultural land. Oxford’s food system uses 398 million tonnes of water per year and uses a total of 6.6 million gigajoules of fossil fuel energy per year. > one sixth of Oxford’s total annual spend on food. Oxford’s food system emits the equivalent of 380,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. This is equivalent to twice the annual emissions from all of Oxford’s cars. Less than 1% of Oxford’s food comes direct from local sources. The rest is split between UK (51%), EU (33%), and rest of world (15%). Oxfordshire could theoretically be self-sufficient in food. If all of Oxford’s allotments and domestic gardens were given over to production, then it could produce half of the city’s fruit and vegetables. But this would represent only 2% of the city’s overall requirement for land to feed itself. Oxford could reduce its food footprints significantly (reductions of around 40% in land use, 25% in water use, 30% in energy use, and 45% in GHG emissions). would require a change in demand profile, and increased dairy and fruit and vegetable production, reducing food waste and changes to diet are particular opportunities. The most effective solutions, overall, result from combinations of changes to diet – less meat, waste, kitchen energy, packaging and provenance.

Idea 2: Get it closer Pilot Food Zones – a neat idea whose time has come!

Idea 3: Eat less & better meat and cut the junk A key issue is what we eat Need not costs more – can certainly cost less Significantly reduced GHG emissions and water footprint ( meat=18% global) “Sustainable diets can address the consumption of foods with lower water and carbon footprints, promote the use of food biodiversity, including traditional and local foods, with their many nutritionally rich species and varieties. The sustainable diets approach will contribute in the capturing efficiencies through the ecosystem approach throughout the food chain. Sustainable diets can also contribute to the transition to nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart agriculture and nutrition-driven food systems.” Food and Agriculture Organisation 2012

Get eating for the planet

Idea 4: planning for change Planning matters including in Siting of food retail outlets size and type – processed vs fresh Transport and emissions – including freight and public transport options to markets Siting of junk food outlets near schools (fat is a carbon issue) Getting people growing and involved in food – make land and resources available Flood risk – a serious issue

Idea 5: Love food, hate waste Save money Save carbon, land, energy etc embodied in food Incentivize and regulate Ensure Food Banks do not become normalized (perpetuate poor supermarket buying practices, waste but most of all equity)

A Sneaky Idea 6: Citizen as well as consumer We need to change policies (e.g. Climate change and energy policies (obviously), green jobs, school food, planning, hospitals, farming, land use and so on) so we need public action on national campaigns Join activities and groups working to improve London’s food and policies that affect it Some great initiatives eg Friends of the Earth and London Local Groups London Food Link Capital Growth Plug for Get Gobby – any students can apply – win £500!!

Thanks for listening and do get involved We have local groups, a forum (hub) and lots of actions to get involved