STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov 14 (IPS) – The urgency to link climate action to social and broader environmental priorities is clear. Climate change, environmental degradation and violent conflict are often closely linked and even reinforce each other. At the same time, climate action can support or undermine efforts to improve social justice and halt environmental degradation.
Nowhere are these connections more visible than in global food systems, where environmental pressures, social inequality and economic shocks converge. And Latin America, where COP30 is taking place, could play a central role in the solution.
Climate change, violent conflict and economic crises are major causes of food insecurity, while food production itself contributes to more than a third of global emissions and accelerates biodiversity loss due to land use change.
Despite steady growth in agricultural production over the past two decades, hunger persists: in 2024, about 8 percent of the world’s population would face hunger, many of them small-scale farmers in crisis-affected areas.
The paradox of Latin America: ecological abundance amid social and ecological vulnerability
Latin America embodies the contradictions at the heart of the global climate and development agenda: vast ecological resources and food production capacity coexist with significant inequality, environmental degradation and social unrest.
Its ecosystems regulate the carbon and water cycles that are essential to the stability of the planet, and the region is the world’s largest provider of ecosystem services. Latin America also has the highest availability of agricultural land and water per capita, making it both the world’s largest net food exporter and a carbon sink.
Yet these assets face increasing pressure from deforestation, land use change and extractive industries. The degradation of forests, soils and watersheds not only accelerates emissions and biodiversity loss, but also deepens local grievances over land, livelihoods and access to resources. This in turn increases the risk of social tensions and violence in a region characterized by extreme inequality, widespread violence and the highest number of environmental conflicts in the world.
Unequal land distribution and the expansion of extractive and agricultural frontiers perpetuate a cycle of degradation and displacement. Environmental degradation is eroding resilience to droughts, floods and other climate impacts, undermining food security and increasing competition over dwindling resources.
Climate change is exacerbating these challenges: extreme weather events reduce crop yields and fuel migration, while ecosystem destruction reduces nature’s ability to absorb future shocks.
Many of the region’s environmental conflicts stem from disputes over territory, water and the impact of large-scale projects that privilege short-term growth over sustainable livelihoods. Criminal networks and weak governance exacerbate instability through illegal mining, logging and land grabbing, while violence against environmental defenders increases distrust in state institutions.
Agriculture and governance at the crossroads
The agricultural sector is at the center of this relationship. It is a cornerstone of the Latin American economy and a major source of the global food supply. Agricultural exports grew 1.7 times between 2010 and 2023, generating a trade surplus of $161 billion. Production and trade are expected to grow further by 2031.
But if expansion remains dependent on deforestation and exclusion, it risks increasing insecurity and fueling new conflicts and ecological collapse. Without inclusive governance and environmental safeguards, economic growth will remain fragile and unsustainable.
Breaking these cycles requires an integrated approach that connects governance, environmental justice and sustainable land use. Strengthening land management, protecting environmentalists and supporting small-scale and indigenous producers are essential for building resilience.
Securing land rights and respect for collective territories strengthens local autonomy and reduces pressure for extractive expansion. Protecting defenders protects those who face repression and violence in resource conflicts, while inclusive, locally rooted development pathways sustain livelihoods and reflect diverse worldviews for many rural populations, for whom land is not only a resource but also a cultural identity.
Promising developments
The Escazú Agreement provides a framework to anchor these principles in practice. It will come into force in 2021 and has been ratified by 18 Latin American countries so far. It is the region’s first legally binding treaty on environmental management. Its three pillars – access to information, public participation and justice for environmental defenders – make it not only an environmental agreement, but also a democratic agreement.
By strengthening transparency and participation, Escazú promotes accountability and peaceful resource management, preventing the very conflicts that undermine climate resilience.
However, its transformative potential remains uneven. The majority of countries in the region have yet to ratify the treaty, while implementation in those that have done so has been hampered by limited technical capacity, weak crisis response mechanisms and, in some cases, a lack of political will. These obstacles, compounded by democratic backsliding in parts of the region and declining global prioritization of environmental issues, threaten to weaken its impact.
Still, fully realizing Escazú’s promise could provide the region with a solid foundation for more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems rooted in transparency, inclusivity, and accountability.
As COP 30 unfolds, Latin America’s experience offers the world a crucial lesson: climate action cannot succeed without social justice, transparency and peace. The region’s experience shows that protecting ecosystems and empowering those who defend them are inextricably linked to ensuring food security and global stability.
Building resilient food systems and sustainable economies depends on strengthening those who defend the land and ensuring that environmental stewardship benefits both people and the planet.
Dr. Caroline Delgado is director of the Food, Peace and Security Program of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
IPS UN Office
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