Climate change and urban agriculture
Urban growers are climate change champions!
We see the impacts of climate change every day:
Extreme weather Poor air quality Drought Stronger pests and plant diseases
What growing food in the city can do:
- Reduce food miles, or the amount of fossil fuels burned and carbon emitted when food travels long distances. Also reduces the need for processing, packaging and refrigeration to preserve food over long distances.
- Growing food with sustainable methods reduces the need for petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides, and traps carbon particles in the soil. Composting organic waste reduces methane emissions from landfill sites.
- More green spaces = cooler temperatures. Green cover reduces the heat island effect that traps pollution and greenhouse gases in urban areas.
- Green rooftops = more green spaces.
- Plants absorb airborne particles, so you can breathe easier!
- More people involved = greater impact! Food engages people who might not get involved in environmental issues.
- Shift eating habits towards plant-based diets that leave a lighter environmental footprint.
Green cover can have a striking impact on temperature and air quality.
Getting started
David Suzuki Foundation has practical tips on reducing your impact.
Live Green Toronto - programs for Toronto residents including local food promotion and a Live Green card that gets you discounts and offers for local green businesses.
Watch this short and fact-filled video from the Climate Change Urban Food Initiative that explains why action is needed now to ensure urban populations can access sufficient, sustainably produced, affordable, safe and nutritious food in a changing climate.
The EAT-Lancet Commission brought together 30 scientists to define a healthy and sustainable diet. Their web page offers recommendations in a variety of formats.
Digging deeper
Climate change affects pollinators such as bees. See this website for more information.
Climate change strengthens pests, weeds and plant diseases - Huffington Post article & International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre
Research - urban agriculture
RUAF has a policy paper on UA and climate change and a search of the RUAF website reveals many articles on climate change and resiliency. Urban Agriculture Magazine issue #27 Urban agriculture as a climate change and disaster mitigation strategy. Many international articles, overview articles relevant to most cities and two articles on rooftop growing.
Climate and Development Knowledge Network looks at climate mitigation strategies in three cities around the world.
Research - Rural Agriculture
IFOAM page on the role of organic agriculture in mitigating climate change.
The Climate and Land Use Alliance focuses on global rural agricultural production.