CLIMATE TEAM

Conference: Making European food systems work for people, climate, and biodiversity

31. 3. 2025

Food systems are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and have been identified as the primary driver of habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. From a public health perspective, diet-related diseases have increased at an alarming rate in Europe, highlighting the need for a shift towards healthier diets. So far, the agri-food sector has lagged behind in climate and sustainability efforts, but it is now clear that transforming food systems beyond the dominant focus on productivity gains is essential to achieving global sustainability goals.

Preliminary program and speakers (subject to change):

13:00-13:45 Introduction and keynotes

Diana Urge-Vorsatz, Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Ladislav Miko, Environmental Adviser to the President of the Czech Republic

13:45-15:00 Panel 1: Missing piece of EU green transition: from conventional agriculture to sustainable food systems?

This panel will provide a forum for discussing transformative pathways and conceptual scenarios that go beyond agriculture to encompass the entire food system – including both food production and consumption. It will focus on synergies and dilemmas with other areas such as land-use, geopolitics and public health, promoting a holistic approach to the sustainability of food systems.

Sébastien Treyer, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI)
Zuzana Harmáčková, Head of the Department of Social-Ecological Analysis, CzechGlobe
Eliška Selinger, National Institute of Public Health
Jana Vítková, Project Manager and Analyst, INCIEN
Moderator: Michaela Kožmínová, Research Fellow, AMO klima

15:00-15:30 Coffee break

15:30-16:45 Panel 2: From visions to action – funding and policies for a just transition in agrifood

This panel will focus on policies and measures for a just and sustainable transformation of food systems. It will explore the evolving policy landscape, including expected reforms within the EU Common Agricultural Policy, Nature Restoration Regulation, the potential EU Emissions Trading System for Agriculture or a Just Transition Fund for the agri-food sector.

Simone Højte, Senior Analyst, CONCITO
Krystyna Springer, Senior Policy Analyst, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)
Tomáš Uhnák, Research Fellow at the Czech University of Life Sciences; Association of Local Food Initiatives, o.p.s.
Monika Dobrovodská, Ministry for Regional Development
Moderator: Barbora Chmelová, Research Fellow, AMO klima

16:45-17:30 Wrap-up and closing statements

Tomáš Jungwirth Březovský, Head of AMO klima

Conference: Making European food systems work for people, climate, and biodiversity is held under the auspices of the Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík.