Why are food and agriculture sectors investing in climate action?

As a mother and an agricultural engineer, I’m worried that climate change, if left unchecked, will have major effects on food production, local communities, and the economy. That’s why I’m proud to be working to be part of the solution, aggressively advocating for necessary change, both personally and professionally.

Last year, at COP22 in Marrakesh where I represented Monsanto, Paris Climate Agreement entered into force, bringing our society to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. Recently, over 1,000 companies and investors across the United States encouraged the U.S. government to keep intact smart climate policies, and follow through the commitments made during COP21

A Reminder: Why did we join this call to action?

Tackling climate change presents one of the greatest economic opportunities, driving innovation and job creation while enhance competitiveness. For the agriculture sector it represents the opportunity to show we’re part of the solution providing food security while reducing greenhouse gas emission. On a individual level (for me, personally as a mother) it represents the opportunity to avoid burdening our future generations with environmental disasters and economic disruptions. Do we not owe our children a better planet?  

This is why I am proud of the efforts we’re doing with our company  towards a low carbon agriculture in alignment with the Paris agreement (COP21, December 2015).

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development with leading agri-business companies from the food and agriculture sectors committed to ensure 50% more food by 2030, reducing greenhouse gas emission by 50% while still increasing resilience.

Since then, this group has increased, and growers, banks and NGOs are also helping to support the implementation of low-carbon agriculture across the world. We recognize that failure to transition towards a low-carbon economy now will only exacerbate the climate-related problems we’ll experience in the future. However maintaining climate leadership in the U.S. can spur innovation, advance the country’s competitiveness, and position U.S.- based companies as leaders in the global economy.

Government leadership is essential

But while we’re working to do all we can towards more resilience in the food-ag sector, we recognize that government leadership is essential for spurring widespread climate action and the transition to a low-carbon economy. We’re happy to see more than 1,000 U.S. businesses calling on elected leaders in Washington to support a low-carbon USA.

We hope that lawmakers, businesses, and communities can work together to build a healthy, thriving, low-carbon economy that will ensure U.S.’s economy prosperity for my children and generations to come.

I would love to hear your thoughts here on LinkedIn or on twitter @gpburian