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Essay
Decoupling Desire: How can the advertising sector promote better, or less, consumption?
What is the role of food advertising in the context of net zero? In this blog post, Trish Fisher summarises a recent TABLE debate and reflects on the issue of greenwashing, alternative economic models such as B-corporations, government regulation of sustainability claims, and the challenges for the advertising industry of redefining a “good life” that is compatible with sustainability goals. This blog post is written by Trish Fisher, an intern at TABLE working on multiple projects. Currently, she is a graduate student at the University of Michigan pursuing dual master’s degrees in public policy and public health. Trish’s research interests lie at the intersection of climate, food, and health policy.
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Climate finance in the agriculture and land use sector
Reports
Climate finance in the agriculture and land use sector
This report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations sets out trends in climate finance with a focus on agriculture and land use. It finds that the agriculture and land use sector has received US$122 billion in climate finance between 2000 and 2018. While in the earlier years studied, agriculture and land use received 45% of climate finance flows, the sector now receives 24%, since a greater proportion of climate finance is going to energy as well as transport and storage.
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Transforming food systems for rural prosperity
Reports
Transforming food systems for rural prosperity
This report from the International Fund for Agricultural Development argues that food systems need to be transformed or even “disrupted” dramatically so that everyone has access to sustainable, nutritious food. The report sees governance as key to this transformation, for example by providing incentives for agroecological and nature-based strategies, supporting smaller-scale producers, incorporating environmental costs into the pricing of food, and building partnerships between different food systems actors.
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Risky Finance
Reports
The UK financial sector’s exposure to deforestation
This report from conservation charity WWF-UK finds that the UK’s financial sector is heavily involved in investing in and lending to companies that trade commodities with a high risk of creating deforestation, including soy, palm and beef. It calls for stricter government regulation, including mandatory due diligence for all companies in the supply chain including financiers, hefty penalties, and stronger informed consent provisions for Indigenous communities.
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True Cost of Food in the US Food System
Reports
True Cost of Food in the US Food System
This report from the Rockefeller Foundation uses true cost accounting to assess the United States food system. It finds that (quantifiable) annual costs to health, the environment and biodiversity are US$3.2 trillion - around three times higher than US expenditure on food, which is US$1.1 trillion per year. The report finds that people of colour are disproportionately affected by negative impacts including non-communicable diseases, food insecurity, and air pollution exposure.
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