The Davos-isation of the climate COP by GRAIN | 15 Feb 2024 Climate 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 by GRAIN | 8 Dec 2023 Climate 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! by Several groups | 4 Dec 2023 Climate 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 by GRAIN | 1 Dec 2023 Climate 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 by GRAIN | 16 Nov 2023 Climate 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 by GRAIN | 13 Jul 2023 Climate 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.
Insights into the evolution of China's agri-food system by GRAIN | 29 Mar 2023 Climate China’s globalised food strategies have led the country into a “contradiction” between self-sufficiency and food imports. In this interview, GRAIN assesses the impacts of the now corporate-based food system over the last four decades. China’s globalised food strategies have led the country into a “contradiction” between self-sufficiency and food imports. In this interview, GRAIN assesses the impacts of the now corporate-based food system over the last four decades.
The well is running dry on irrigated agriculture by GRAIN | 15 Feb 2023 Climate Groundwater depletion is not just a problem in California. It is a problem for many of the world's major irrigated agricultural areas. According to one study, the global area affected by groundwater depletion has more than doubled between 1960 and 2000 and has accelerated since then. Other researchers estimate that a third of the world's major aquifers are now at risk. Groundwater depletion is not just a problem in California. It is a problem for many of the world's major irrigated agricultural areas. According to one study, the global area affected by groundwater depletion has more than doubled between 1960 and 2000 and has accelerated since then. Other researchers estimate that a third of the world's major aquifers are now at risk.
Purchasing land in Niger for carbon credits: the new form of greenwashing sweeping Africa by GRAIN | 16 Nov 2022 Climate With COP 27 in full swing in Egypt, and all eyes once again on this climate conference – rapidly becoming the great carnival of promises that will never be kept - one question is surely haunting many Nigeriens: will the sale of carbon credits provide any benefit for communities and the climate? With COP 27 in full swing in Egypt, and all eyes once again on this climate conference – rapidly becoming the great carnival of promises that will never be kept - one question is surely haunting many Nigeriens: will the sale of carbon credits provide any benefit for communities and the climate?
An agribusiness greenwashing glossary by GRAIN | 7 Sep 2022 Climate | Multimedia The main contributors to the climate crisis are devising plans for the agri-food sector which will only serve to make them richer. To do this, they offer a range of “climate compatible” projects and technologies. This will lead to the expansion of the agribusiness model, bringing more destruction and dispossession. Here, we present their “Greenwashing Toolkit”. The main contributors to the climate crisis are devising plans for the agri-food sector which will only serve to make them richer. To do this, they offer a range of “climate compatible” projects and technologies. This will lead to the expansion of the agribusiness model, bringing more destruction and dispossession. Here, we present their “Greenwashing Toolkit”.
From land grab to soil grab - the new business of carbon farming by GRAIN | 24 Feb 2022 Climate The world's largest agrochemical companies are pushing ahead with carbon credit programmes to enhance their power in the food system and enable big oil, food and tech corporations to avoid cuts to their emissions. This massive soil grab is based on faulty carbon sequestration schemes that undermine real climate solutions. The world's largest agrochemical companies are pushing ahead with carbon credit programmes to enhance their power in the food system and enable big oil, food and tech corporations to avoid cuts to their emissions. This massive soil grab is based on faulty carbon sequestration schemes that undermine real climate solutions.
New research shows 50 year binge on chemical fertilisers must end to address the climate crisis by GRAIN, Greenpeace International & Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) | 1 Nov 2021 Climate New research shows nitrogen fertilisers made from fossil fuels are an ecological disaster, responsible for around a quarter of all GHGs from agriculture. The research provides the first estimate of the global climate impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers to cover the entire production chain, from manufacturing to soil application. A global phase-out is urgently required! New research shows nitrogen fertilisers made from fossil fuels are an ecological disaster, responsible for around a quarter of all GHGs from agriculture. The research provides the first estimate of the global climate impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers to cover the entire production chain, from manufacturing to soil application. A global phase-out is urgently required!
Agribusiness and big finance's dirty alliance is anything but "green" by GRAIN | 15 Sep 2021 Climate Across the world, the most notorious players in the expansion of industrial agriculture are turning to “green finance” to raise money for themselves. The growing support for regulations on their investments and public control over the financial market has made them look for a solution that keeps the cash and agribusiness commodities flowing but hides the destruction they provoke. Across the world, the most notorious players in the expansion of industrial agriculture are turning to “green finance” to raise money for themselves. The growing support for regulations on their investments and public control over the financial market has made them look for a solution that keeps the cash and agribusiness commodities flowing but hides the destruction they provoke.
Corporate greenwashing: "net zero" and "nature-based solutions" are a deadly fraud by GRAIN | 17 Mar 2021 Climate Corporations are ramping up their greenwashing to head-off any efforts to reign in their GHG emissions. After five years of having done nothing to move towards the already compromised targets established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, dozens of big polluters like Nestlé and Shell are now making "net zero" pledges, mainly to satisfy the public relations needs of the financial players that fund them. Corporations are ramping up their greenwashing to head-off any efforts to reign in their GHG emissions. After five years of having done nothing to move towards the already compromised targets established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, dozens of big polluters like Nestlé and Shell are now making "net zero" pledges, mainly to satisfy the public relations needs of the financial players that fund them.
Agroecology vs. climate chaos: Farmers leading the battle in Asia by GRAIN | 10 Mar 2021 Climate As urgent as the climate crisis is, some of the solutions being promoted from above are misleading. Not only are they not putting us in the right track, they are also exacerbating an array of other problems ranging from poverty to loss of biodiversity. Fortunately, a number of farmers across Asia on the front lines of climate disaster are putting forth a solution that is working and that is also adapted to their socioeconomic circumstances and farming traditions: Agroecology. As urgent as the climate crisis is, some of the solutions being promoted from above are misleading. Not only are they not putting us in the right track, they are also exacerbating an array of other problems ranging from poverty to loss of biodiversity. Fortunately, a number of farmers across Asia on the front lines of climate disaster are putting forth a solution that is working and that is also adapted to their socioeconomic circumstances and farming traditions: Agroecology.