C40 Food Systems was recently awarded the prestigious Food Planet Prize, which with its 2-million-dollar prize is the largest environmental award in the world.
C40’s Food Systems Network works directly with its 50+ member cities from around the world to make it easier for residents to eat food that is good for people, the planet, and prosperity by developing healthy, equitable, and accessible food systems that also reduce food loss and waste.
Through the C40 Good Cities Accelerator, 16 cities worldwide are working to deliver sustainable food policies and achieve a Planetary Health Diet for all by 2030, informed by the EAT-Lancet Commission. The cities participating in the Good Food Cities accelerator are Stockholm, London, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Oslo, Copenhagen, New York City, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, Lima, Guadalajara, Seoul, Quezon City and Tokyo. These cities collectively serve over 500 million meals. Though every city is shaped by local context, good solutions can be quickly scaled and refined to suit other cities facing similar challenges.
“Receiving the Food Planet Prize is a tremendous honor for all of us here at C40. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to transforming food systems locally and globally and inspires us to continue our dedicated work towards a healthier and more equitable food future for all C40 cities and beyond,” said Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Co-Chair of C40.
Transforming food systems to becoming aligned with the Planetary Health Diet will ensure that food systems go from being one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions on the planet to becoming a carbon sink. It is therefore a critical part of the solution to the global climate crisis, as well as the most effective way of combating biodiversity loss.
Recent studies by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and partner institutions have also reaffirmed the massive health benefits of the Planetary Health Diet. A Harvard study published in June indicates that the diet could lower the risk of premature death by up to 30%. Another study shows that adhering to the Planetary Health Diet is strongly associated with healthy aging.
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