As the world converges in Belém, Brazil, for UNFCCC COP30, ICLEI’s Global CityFood Program is ready to demonstrate how local action can drive global transformation, reaffirming, as a signatory of the Climate Champions Food Systems Call to Action, its commitment to centering food systems actors, and advancing a just transition and collective action. 

For over 10 years, the CityFood Program has been at the forefront of reshaping urban food environments through practical, locally driven solutions, from strengthening local fresh food markets to shifting school meals and schools into a new paradigm. Yet, despite their immense potential, urban food systems still are not receiving enough attention in the national climate plans. 

In recent years,  momentum has been building to change that. In 2021,  the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration first recognized the critical role of local and regional governments in tackling the climate emergency through integrated food policies, calling on national governments to act. Two years later, at COP28 in Dubai, the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action brought over 160 countries together to commit to alignment with national climate strategies, clearly stating that “any path to fully achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement must include agriculture and food systems.” 

Building on this progress, COP30 marks a critical moment. With “Agriculture & Food Systems” officially listed as one of the six pillars of its Action Agenda, the operationalization of the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture and Food Security, the Standing Committee on Finance’s focus on sustainable food systems and agriculture, and the growing recognition of urban-rural linkages, the global community is recognizing that no path to achieving the Paris Agreement goals can exist without transforming how food is produced, distributed and consumed. 

Climate change directly affects food systems by influencing agricultural productivity, food availability, and access to resources. As emphasized in the 2025 HLPE report, for example, climate variability and extreme weather events increasingly disrupt crop yields and livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable communities dependent on rainfed agriculture. These disruptions create cascading effects across markets and consumption patterns, ultimately threatening food security and nutrition. This calls for the need to integrate approaches that build resilience through sustainable practices, improved governance, and climate adaptation strategies to ensure food security under changing climatic conditions. 

Adding to these global efforts, Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), also has reaffirmed the importance of inclusive, multilevel collaboration in transforming food systems. In line with this, the CFS is increasingly emphasizing the importance of territorial markets and shorter supply chains that connect urban, periurban and rural areas,  integrating them into national and subnational zoning policies and urban planning frameworks. 

Taken together, these developments signal a major step forward in placing food systems at the heart of climate action. 

Taking the stage at COP30

With global attention turning to urban food systems, CityFood is taking the stage at COP30 and will engage in a series of key events, showcasing how local innovation and practical solutions can transform urban food systems and drive global impact. Key engagements at COP30 include:

• The event: “A Food Waste Breakthrough for Climate, Biodiversity, and Equitable, Resilient Cities,” co-organized with the UN Environment Programme, UN Climate High-Level Champions, and the Global FoodBanking Network on 13 November at 09:30 BRT. This session will showcase solutions and actions to fight hunger, lower emissions, and enhance climate resilience in cities, culminating in the launch of the Food Waste Breakthrough, a five-year plan to mobilize cities and food businesses to cut food waste by half. 
• The panel: “Strengthening Networks for Sustainable, Resilient, Circular and Just Food Systems,” held at AgriZone (Embrapa), the House of Sustainable Agriculture, on 10 November at 11:20 BRT. This session will highlight practical experiences and replicable solutions to strengthen cooperation among cities and advance sustainable, circular, and equitable food systems, emphasizing the role of integrated public policies in enhancing food security and resilience in the region. 
• The panel: “Circular Food Systems: Sharing International Solutions for Climate Action,” to be held at the COP30 Food & Agriculture Pavilion on 15 November at 15:30 BRT. This dialogue will showcase innovative initiatives focused on food loss and waste reduction, the bioeconomy, and efforts to foster circularity in food systems and sustainable urban development. Participants will exchange insights on key opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned that can inspire future policies and strengthen international cooperation. By sharing local solutions, the session aims to demonstrate how circular practices can advance climate action while supporting more equitable and regenerative economies worldwide.
• The panel: “Food as a Climate Solution: Local Experiences and Latin American Collaborations to Transform Food Systems,” held at the Amazonia Climate Hub Pavilion on 17 November at 09:30 BRT. This session will showcase how food can serve as a powerful driver of climate action through local and regional initiatives that strengthen sustainable food systems, agroecology, and climate justice. It will feature experiences such as LUPPA, Terra Nutre, the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, the Leaders’ Cohort, and Na Mesa da COP30, highlighting how collaborative efforts between cities, rural territories, and civil society can reduce emissions, support small producers, and expand access to healthy, culturally rooted foods. By connecting diverse actors and territories, the session aims to inspire integrated public policies and reinforce international cooperation for equitable, resilient, and regenerative food systems across Latin America.
• The panel: “Local Governments and Food Infrastructure for Urban Resilience,” held at the Food Roots and Routes Pavilion: Rooted in the South, Shared with the World on 14 November (time to be confirmed). This event will explore how strengthening urban food infrastructure and logistics can drive adaptation and build more resilient food systems. It will highlight the strategic role of public markets, street fairs, food banks, and local distribution networks in ensuring food access, reducing emissions, and promoting social equity. By connecting climate adaptation, circular economy, and local development, the dialogue will showcase how urban planning, mobility, water management, and waste systems can be integrated into food policy and governance. During this event, the second edition of The CityFood Market Handbook for Healthy and Resilient Cities, featuring over 30 global case studies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and new Spanish and Portuguese translations will be launched.
• The panel: “Local Food Policies and Addressing the Climate Crisis: The Role of Global South Cities”, held at the Food Roots and Routes Pavilion: Rooted in the South, Shared with the World, on 14 November (time to be confirmed). This session will explore how cities in the Global South are designing and implementing food policies that integrate food security, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Through initiatives such as LUPPA – Urban Laboratory of Public Food Policy and the Alimenta Cidades Strategy (MDS), it will highlight how local governance can strengthen access to adequate food, support regional production, and build resilience to climate change. By connecting lessons from multiple urban contexts, the discussion aims to inspire collaborative solutions, advance the integration of local food policies into municipal climate action plans and NDCs, and reinforce the strategic role of Global South cities in transforming food systems and promoting climate action at the local level.

Through its engagement at COP30 and beyond, CityFood is helping to advance a shared vision where cities are recognized as key drivers of food system transformation, turning global commitments into local action that drives climate resilience, equity, and sustainability. Achieving this vision requires coordinated efforts across all levels of government and ensuring that urban food systems are given the attention they need.

A call to action for national governments

As ICLEI, Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency representatives, and local leaders take the stage in Belém, CityFood’s message is simple: Healthy, resilient, and equitable food systems start locally, but their impact is global.

Ambitious local initiatives on food contrast dramatically with the fragmented and often ineffective responses of national governments to food and climate change. Too often, national climate plans submitted under the Paris Agreement (NDCs) overlook food systems.  When they do address them, these plans often lack joined-up approaches across the whole food system, fail to connect local, regional, and national levels of government, and rarely include concrete measurable commitments. 

At the same time, ambitious local initiatives are already showing what is possible. Cities are not just sites of consumption; they are laboratories for innovation, solidarity, and climate leadership. To make healthy, sustainable, and equitable food accessible to all, cities must continue to collaborate, learn from one another, and place the lived experiences of their residents at the center of decision-making. 

This is why, CityFood urges national governments to recognize that multilevel collaboration and urbanization are key to achieving climate, agriculture and sustainable food targets. By integrating urban-rural food systems into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), national governments can achieve a win-win: A more aligned and bolder and more coordinated progress on decarbonization and a greater impact on food system transformation. This should be accompanied by the recognition of local and regional governments as co-decision makers, not only implementers. To support this effort, CityFood has produced the first-ever Guidance on Food included in the LGMA Guidance for COP30 Negotiators.

Follow CityFood’s journey by visiting our website and read our mid-year recap of the ICLEI CityFood Program‘s worldwide actions to transform urban food systems. 

Spotlight: Brazilian cities leading the way

As COP30 casts a global spotlight on Brazil, two cities, Belém and Barcarena, exemplify how local leadership can drive national and global change. 

Belém, the host city of COP30, stands out for its Local Climate Action Plan (PLAC-Belém), an integrated approach that equips the city to address its unique environmental and social challenges while advancing its commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda. The plan serves as a model for cities in the Amazon and beyond, showcasing how local governance can deliver systemic change. Complementing this plan, Belém has developed the Ecosystem Services Diagnostic (DSE), which maps and evaluates the city’s natural resources and ecosystem functions, providing guidance on how to preserve and leverage them for sustainable urban development. In addition, the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Analysis identifies the city’s exposure to climate hazards and social vulnerabilities, helping to prioritize interventions and strengthen resilience. Together, these documents provide a robust scientific basis for local decision-making and climate-resilient planning.

At the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, eight ICLEI Members were among the 12 winners of the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Local Leaders Awards, with Barcarena recognized for its “Food System for Sustainable Development & Food Security” initiative.

Barcarena has emerged as a standout city in local food systems, implementing initiatives that strengthen both food security and economic resilience. The city has established a Municipal Food Acquisition Program (PMAA), which prioritizes purchases from local family farmers and channels fresh fruits and vegetables to vulnerable populations. Complementary initiatives, such as a municipal inspection service, the Fundo Acreditar microcredit fund, and producer mapping, support the commercialization and distribution of local production.

The city also invests in markets and fairs, including itinerant and solidarity economy fairs, where women and youth are prioritized as key actors in agricultural production and artisanal food enterprises. Training programs further empower women in areas such as poultry management and artisanal chocolate production, reinforcing the city’s role in promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient food systems.