Joint statement on COP28 from IDF and GDP
The Global Dairy Sector’s Commitment to Sustainability
and Climate Action
As the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates approaches, the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and Global Dairy Platform (GDP) wish to highlight the significant Initiatives dairy is implementing to tackle climate change.
The global dairy sector stands at the forefront of the challenge to nourish the ever-growing global population of 8 billion people with safe, nutritious, and sustainable foods. Daily, 6 billion people worldwide rely on dairy’s high-quality nutrition, with milk and dairy products offering essential nutrients such as high-quality proteins, calcium, magnesium, selenium, riboflavin, and vitamins B5 and B12.
Furthermore, dairying plays a crucial role in society, providing livelihoods for approximately one billion people. The production, trade, and consumption of milk and dairy products foster strong communities worldwide, contributing to resilient food systems where everyone has access to sufficient high-quality food for healthy and productive lives.
Recognizing the urgency of addressing climate change and its impact on the environment, water and land use, the dairy sector has embraced the responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining its vital role in feeding the world. Acknowledging the importance of aligning with global climate goals, multiple stakeholders within the sector have collaborated on initiatives to accelerate progress.
Through innovation and a commitment to climate action, the global dairy sector is paving the way for a more sustainable future, while optimizing dairy’s positive effects on soil and ecosystem services. From farm to fork, advancements in technology, best practices, and research are driving substantial reductions in GHG emissions.
Dairy sector’s commitment to climate action
The dairy sector’s commitment to climate action has been evident through the creation of the Dairy Sustainability Framework in 2013, the signing of the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam in 2016 between IDF and the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the launch of Pathways to Dairy Net Zero. Launched at the UN Food Systems Summit in September 2021, this global climate initiative is supported by more than 200 leading organizations, including governments, industry groups, academia, small and large scale processors including the 10 largest dairy companies in the world. By encouraging transparency, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, this groundbreaking effort is accelerating the pace of climate action in the dairy industry and inspiring the agricultural sector.
IDF and GDP support the inclusion of nutrition indicators in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as proposed by FAO. This approach ensures a more comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of dairy products by factoring in their nutritional value. Also, incorporating nutrition indicators into LCA methodologies helps policy makers and regulators understand the balance between nutritional requirements and the environmental impacts of food production.
IDF and GDP and their members are dedicated to sharing game-changing solutions during COP28. The dairy sector is working to address the triple challenge of providing food security, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability in a rapidly changing world.
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