Photo by Kristin Teig

In this series of climate-focused posts, we’ll dig a little deeper into how behavior change—as both eaters and consumers—can help move the needle when adapting to a changing climate. 

From the once-in-a-lifetime hurricanes that are now commonplace, to melting glaciers, extreme floods, fires, droughts and heatwaves, it’s no secret that we’re living with climate change. And the crisis is accelerating. 

Last fall, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report stating that if emissions continue as they are, the global temperature will rise by 1.5°C (2.7°F) by 2040, triggering a climate crisis. The Paris Agreement, ratified in 2016, was based on holding the line at 2°C, so the IPCC report was alarming: Global temperatures have already risen by just under 1°C since the 1880’s and don’t show any signs of slowing. 

Late this summer, the IPCC released another climate report—this time focused on the relationship between climate change, land use and global food supply. The main takeaway: The world’s food supply is at risk due to a combination of factors. 

Even without including climate impacts, the way humans use and manage land has negative impacts on sustainability overall. The emissions from agriculture, forestry and other land use add up to 23% of net human-caused emissions, which in turn contribute to climate change, which then has further negative impacts on the land. This loop of human activity and a changing climate, according to the IPCC, is a recipe for declining agricultural productivity and food insecurity all over the planet. 

We know that the global economy needs to change to accommodate a world where the climate crisis continues to grow. And while the current political climate can make significant policy change feel out of reach, there’s an active role to play for consumers in helping to push a shift toward a more climate-friendly economy. 

When it comes to both reducing emissions and adopting more sustainable land use practices, there are solutions at hand, say the IPCC scientists. Between moving to a plant-based diet and reducing food waste, to addressing emissions at home and encouraging others to do the same, the more we can adapt now, the more prepared we’ll be when more significant changes are upon us. 

Leigh’s climate-themed series will appear as online exclusives during the fall of 2019, culminating in an entire issue dedicated to the subject in February 2020. Sign up for our e-newsletters to be notified when each installment goes live.