At COP29 in Azerbaijan, a global event meant to champion climate solutions, delegates are encountering a troubling irony: unsustainable food systems, rampant plastic waste, and mislabeling scandals. With over 50,000 attendees, expectations for sustainability were high, yet the reality is anything but.
As one of the most carbon-intensive foods, beef dominates menus, while plant-based options are scarce and cost-prohibitive. Even worse, reports reveal vegetarian and vegan dishes that are falsely labeled, leaving attendees confused and frustrated. Single-use plastics are ubiquitous, undermining the conference’s mission of combating waste. Delegates report meals wrapped in disposable packaging and a lack of nutritious, affordable options, raising questions about how these choices align with the event's stated goals.
This dissonance between rhetoric and reality has sparked a wave of frustration. Attendees have shared photos and stories of food waste, sugary junk offerings, plastic waste and exorbitant prices for sustainable options. Is COP29 truly embodying the solutions it promotes, or is it a case study in greenwashing?
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