The Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration is a call to action by sub-national, local and international governments from all over the world to accelerate the development of integrated food policies as a key tool to cut carbon emissions.

Having signed the agreement, the council continue to work in partnership to:

• Develop and implement integrated food policies and strategies
• Reduce greenhouse emissions from urban and regional food systems
• Call on national governments to establish supportive and enabling policy frameworks.

These commitments will be advanced through existing initiatives aimed at tackling climate change, and food insecurity, such as the Stirling Food Framework, an ambitious initiative that aims to improve access to good quality, healthy and sustainable food; and Stirling’s Climate and Nature Emergency Plan adopted by the council in June 2021.

Councillor Chris Kane, convener of Stirling Council’s Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, said: “Signing this international agreement builds on our existing sustainable food policies and adds Stirling’s voice to this important global call to action.

“This commitment shows our intent to go further and faster in cutting the ecological footprint of the food we serve and helps our efforts to reduce health and income inequalities.”

Food and agriculture account for up to 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while more than 30% of the world’s population is obese or overweight and 1 in 9 people are hungry or undernourished.

The benefits of integrated food policies include biodiversity, ecosystem regeneration, circularity, access to sustainable and healthy diets for all, and the creation of resilient livelihoods for farm and food workers.

Councillor Scott Farmer, vice convener, added: “Enhancing and integrating our food systems will be vital in the fight against climate change and that requires local action, so it’s vital that local authorities such as Stirling step up to meet this challenge.

“We are proud to be one of the first Scottish councils to sign this declaration which aligns with our ongoing work to make Stirling a Good Food City – a place where everyone can access healthy, affordable and sustainable food.”

Local authorities are being encouraged to support the international pledge by Nourish Scotland, which co-ordinates the Sustainable Food Places network. The council’s Community Planning and Regeneration Committee agreed to sign the declaration in September 2021.