Launching at COP31 · Antalya, Türkiye · 9–20 November 2026
Local food action. Global climate solutions.
Climate change is felt where we live — and so are the answers. From food rescue in Victoria to youth-run organics recovery in Nairobi, communities are already building food systems that feed people, cut waste and heal soil. Groundswell makes them visible, funds them and helps them scale.
Voices from the Ground
Youth, food systems and zero waste on the road to COP31
The idea
Food is where climate change becomes real.
Climate change shapes what we can grow, how food moves, what it costs, what gets wasted and who gets to eat. Today’s system throws away good food while people go hungry, and strips nutrients from the soils farmers depend on.
Communities everywhere are closing that loop: preventing loss, rescuing food, feeding people, and returning what’s left to living soil. These are climate solutions. They deserve recognition, investment and a seat at the table where decisions are made.
Three pillars
Food systems that are equitable, climate-friendly and zero-waste.
Equitable
Climate shocks hit food prices first, and hardest for people already struggling. Solutions must reach them — and be shaped by them.
We ask: fund grassroots food infrastructure directly, and give youth and Indigenous communities real decision-making power.
Climate-friendly
Healthy soils hold carbon and water. Regenerative farms and local supply chains keep food growing and moving when shocks hit.
We ask: write food systems and living soils into national climate plans, and invest in regenerative farming and local storage.
Zero-waste
Wasted food wastes the land, water and emissions behind it. Closing the loop turns it into meals, animal feed and fertile soil.
We ask: adopt food-loss and organics policies with quality standards, fund local recovery, and pay waste workers fairly.
Case studies
The groundswell is already here.
Victoria, Canada · Equitable · Zero-waste
The Mustard Seed
Rescues over 3.5 million pounds of food a year and shares it through 80+ Food Share Network agencies. Food people can’t use goes to local farms as animal feed and compost.
Nairobi, Kenya · Zero-waste
LEWMO, Lucky Summer
Waste workers and households separate organics, which black soldier fly larvae turn into animal feed and fertiliser — locally led climate action that creates livelihoods.
Nairobi, Kenya · Equitable
Growth4Change
Youth in Dandora and Mathare grow food in upcycled containers, run learning labs and launch micro-enterprises. What they need next: markets and finance that reach them.
Sierra Leone · Climate-friendly
Youth Climate Council
Young people cut post-harvest loss with solar cold storage and drying — and bring that evidence into national climate policy.
North Saanich, Canada · Climate-friendly
Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture
Demonstrating regenerative practice and living soils that close the loop with recovered organics. [Description to confirm with Sandown]
Your community’s story belongs here.
Share one photo of food-climate action where you live, and what you want decision-makers to hear.
Take action
Everyone has a part. Find yours.
Right now we are in Phase 1: making local solutions visible. Next we invest in them, then scale them, on the road from COP31 to COP32.
Community members
Watch and share the film. Post a photo of the solution growing where you live. Take one food-loop action this month.
Organizers and youth groups
Add your initiative to the map. Host a screening. Join the youth Food Security Caucus and endorse the Youth DeclarACTION.
Policymakers
Recognize food systems as climate action. Meet youth delegates at COP31 and hold a listening session at home.
Funders and investors
See what’s working before it scales. Join the investor briefing list and get first look at our investment prospectus.
See it. Share it. Join it.
Back what’s working.
Make it the norm.
Youth-led
From declaration to action.
Young people from many countries shaped the Youth DeclarACTION on Zero Waste and Climate Action with GDD Türkiye and the Zero Waste Forum. Groundswell carries their priorities into COP31 — and holds decision-makers to them on the way to COP32.
Join the groundswell.
Add your solution, sign up for campaign updates, or tell us how you want to help. We’ll connect you with the network and the next action.