Climate

The climate crisis and the food crisis are intimately linked, with the industrial food system - from farm to supermarket - largely responsible for both. Under this programme area, GRAIN draws attention to the responsibility of industrial agriculture and centralised supply chains in causing the climate crisis, and how food sovereignty and peasant-led agroecology offer a tremendous potential to solve a good part of it. 

We do so through sustained information and outreach activities, and through active strategy development and coalition building with the social movements involved.

The carbon credit trap: A new danger for farmers in Asia

Asia's farmlands are becoming a major target for carbon credit projects. Some displace communities for tree plantations while others lock them into decades-long contracts that dictate farming practices -pushing farmers to give up control of their land for uncertain profits.

Asia's farmlands are becoming a major target for carbon credit projects. Some displace communities for tree plantations while others lock them into decades-long contracts that dictate farming practices -pushing farmers to give up control of their land for uncertain profits.

Can African food systems thrive without chemical fertilisers?

Billions of dollars were ploughed into public subsidy schemes for fertiliser use in Africa after the 2008 global food crisis. That approach failed to reduce food imports yet boosted profits for big fertiliser companies. Fast-forward 2026: it's happening again.

Billions of dollars were ploughed into public subsidy schemes for fertiliser use in Africa after the 2008 global food crisis. That approach failed to reduce food imports yet boosted profits for big fertiliser companies. Fast-forward 2026: it's happening again.

States enter the carbon market rush: more harms to come for communities and the climate

Governments around the world are rushing to launch an international market for carbon credits. Big polluters want to avoid reducing emissions. Global South governments are hoping for a new source of revenues. And the cowboys of the carbon offset industry need a veneer of "integrity" for their scandal-plagued projects.

Governments around the world are rushing to launch an international market for carbon credits. Big polluters want to avoid reducing emissions. Global South governments are hoping for a new source of revenues. And the cowboys of the carbon offset industry need a veneer of "integrity" for their scandal-plagued projects.

Bezos’ $10 billion for the climate is a gift to Amazon

The Bezos Earth Fund—the biggest climate philanthropy—has spent only 1/4 of its $10 billion pledge halfway through its 10-year mission. With new CEO Tom Taylor (ex-Amazon AI), expect a bigger push for carbon markets in climate talks like UN COPs.

The Bezos Earth Fund—the biggest climate philanthropy—has spent only 1/4 of its $10 billion pledge halfway through its 10-year mission. With new CEO Tom Taylor (ex-Amazon AI), expect a bigger push for carbon markets in climate talks like UN COPs.

Carbon farming’s hot air won’t cool the planet

Despite scandals in carbon credit markets & controversial science, corporations are pushing carbon farming to avoid cutting emissions in their supply chains. These schemes target large farms in the Global North and small farmers in the South.

Despite scandals in carbon credit markets & controversial science, corporations are pushing carbon farming to avoid cutting emissions in their supply chains. These schemes target large farms in the Global North and small farmers in the South.

The mirage of food security: Big farming in North Africa's deserts

Big farming projects in North Africa’s deserts are presented as a response to food insecurity. But aquifers will be depleted and costs will be high. While small farmers are pushed out, there's no guarantee that production will be for local people.

Big farming projects in North Africa’s deserts are presented as a response to food insecurity. But aquifers will be depleted and costs will be high. While small farmers are pushed out, there's no guarantee that production will be for local people.

Resistance and food sovereignty: Mexican indigenous and peasant populations vs expanding agro-industry

In Mexico, the agribusiness strategy consists of grabbing land and water, eroding the fabric of communities, and profiting from the exploitation of labour. But there are many examples of communities struggling to maintain food sovereignty.

In Mexico, the agribusiness strategy consists of grabbing land and water, eroding the fabric of communities, and profiting from the exploitation of labour. But there are many examples of communities struggling to maintain food sovereignty.

New poster on food and the climate crisis

There is no way to deal with the climate crisis without addressing how we produce and consume food. In this new poster, GRAIN breaks down the culprits and the solutions when it comes to food and the climate crisis.

There is no way to deal with the climate crisis without addressing how we produce and consume food. In this new poster, GRAIN breaks down the culprits and the solutions when it comes to food and the climate crisis.

The Davos-isation of the climate COP

UN climate talks are increasingly being used to cut carbon deals, not emissions. This is the Davos-isation of COP. In this article, GRAIN looks at how this corporate capture played out in the area of food and agriculture, the source of one-third of global emissions.

UN climate talks are increasingly being used to cut carbon deals, not emissions. This is the Davos-isation of COP. In this article, GRAIN looks at how this corporate capture played out in the area of food and agriculture, the source of one-third of global emissions.

Let's bury false solutions at COP28

Everyone is now saying that Africa is the place where climate crisis solutions can be found. Forests, land and other resources are therefore targeted by multiple “grabbers” working in the interests of profit and the convenience of capitalism. Let’s take a look together at the Top 5 of their false solutions:

Everyone is now saying that Africa is the place where climate crisis solutions can be found. Forests, land and other resources are therefore targeted by multiple “grabbers” working in the interests of profit and the convenience of capitalism. Let’s take a look together at the Top 5 of their false solutions:

Stop carbon offsetting now!

Carbon offsetting has undermined real climate action, given rise to human rights and Indigenous rights violations and caused severe harm to frontline communities for over two decades. Despite this, the UN climate conference (COP28) currently underway in the United Arab Emirates is set to be one of the biggest promotional events for carbon offsets ever.

Carbon offsetting has undermined real climate action, given rise to human rights and Indigenous rights violations and caused severe harm to frontline communities for over two decades. Despite this, the UN climate conference (COP28) currently underway in the United Arab Emirates is set to be one of the biggest promotional events for carbon offsets ever.

Regenerative agriculture was a good idea, until corporations got hold of it

This year's COP28 will showcase regenerative agriculture prominently, and the term is gaining traction in policy circles, investor conferences and supermarket shelves. But it is just the latest iteration of an on-going corporate strategy to undercut support for agroecology and shore up corporate profits amid multiple crises caused by the model of industrial agriculture they depend on.

This year's COP28 will showcase regenerative agriculture prominently, and the term is gaining traction in policy circles, investor conferences and supermarket shelves. But it is just the latest iteration of an on-going corporate strategy to undercut support for agroecology and shore up corporate profits amid multiple crises caused by the model of industrial agriculture they depend on.

Tackling the climate crisis by addressing food consumption

It is now common knowledge that we have to transform both how we produce and how we use energy to disrupt the current trajectory of climate change. Simply switching from “polluting” energy sources to “clean” ones will not work. We actually have to produce and use less energy altogether if we are to keep our planet liveable while fighting for justice and equity in terms of who can access and consume energy.

It is now common knowledge that we have to transform both how we produce and how we use energy to disrupt the current trajectory of climate change. Simply switching from “polluting” energy sources to “clean” ones will not work. We actually have to produce and use less energy altogether if we are to keep our planet liveable while fighting for justice and equity in terms of who can access and consume energy.

Carbon rice farming: A license to pollute at the expense of small farmers

Corporate interest in rice carbon farming projects is exploding. They are now the second most popular project in the agriculture sector. These greenwashing tactics are burdening small farmers in developing countries & leaving them uncertain benefits.

Corporate interest in rice carbon farming projects is exploding. They are now the second most popular project in the agriculture sector. These greenwashing tactics are burdening small farmers in developing countries & leaving them uncertain benefits.