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New Brighton Climate Action Plan 6 -1 <br />Increasing resilience of our food systems and <br />improving food access and security. <br />Climate change threatens global agricultural resilience <br />and food security. Increasing extreme weather events <br />and shifting climate patterns, spurred by global warming, <br />may yield unpredictable crops, leading to volatile prices <br />and complex access to nutritious food. <br /> <br />Simultaneously, our individual dietary choices can play a <br />dual role in relation to climate change - they both <br />contribute to it and are affected by it. The high demand <br />for animal-based products, characterized by their <br />substantial environmental impact due to methane <br />emissions and extensive land use, serves as a catalyst for <br />global warming. As a repercussion, these climatic <br />alterations adversely affect the very production of these <br />food sources. <br /> <br />The origins and distribution of our food are intrinsically <br />linked to climate change as well. The transportation of <br />food over vast distances results in the consumption of <br />fossil fuels and the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). <br />Moreover, the duration of these long-distance hauls <br />amplifies the demand for refrigeration, a process that is <br />highly carbon-intensive. By minimizing the need for <br />transportation and refrigeration in our food supply chain, <br />we can make our dietary choices more sustainable. <br /> <br />Economic Potential of Local Food Purchases <br />Obtaining food locally can curtail our diet's carbon <br />intensity by minimizing the supply chain and cutting GHG <br />emissions from food transport, simultaneously bolstering <br />local economies. Research shows that for every $1 million <br />revenue, local food markets generate roughly 32 jobs, <br />three times more than exclusive wholesale channels. <br />Furthermore, community gardens and increased <br />neighborhood gardening foster social unity, facilitate <br />multi-generational interaction, promote low-impact <br />outdoor exercise, and enhance plant, animal, and <br />pollinator habitats. <br />Climate Impacts <br />This sector impacts climate change through <br />deforestation for farmland, methane emissions <br />from livestock, and fossil fuels used in farming <br />practices and long-distance transportation of <br />goods. <br /> <br />Climate Hazards <br />Local food and agriculture systems face threats <br />like diminished crop quality and yield, pest <br />susceptibility, soil moisture instability, <br />fiuctuating availability, and volatile food pricing. <br />77% <br />of survey respondents are <br />moderately, very, or <br />extremely concerned about <br />potential impacts on food <br />security. <br />Local Food and Agriculture <br />Equity Considerations <br />"Food deserts" typically occur in low-income <br />areas with limited supermarket access, <br />resulting in scarce affordable, nutritious food. <br />This, coupled with prevalent fast-food <br />restaurants, creates "nutrition deserts." <br />Unintentionally, local food programs can <br />perpetuate inequity. Dominant populations <br />often shape these programs, potentially <br />neglecting marginalized individuals within the <br />food system. Hence, those unable to afford <br />"local" or organic food can remain excluded, <br />sustaining food insecurity. <br />Click here to <br />return to TOC