Reflections on COP28 and the Road Ahead for the Food and Beverage Industry – Omar Shihab, Chief Sustainability Officer at BOCA.

Following a season of sustainability discussions at COP28 and a bustling service calendar in the hospitality and food & beverage sectors, it’s time to reflect on lessons learned. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed extended the UAE’s Year of Sustainability throughout 2024 during the 27th National Environment Day on February 4th, making it the perfect moment to reinvigorate a sense of purpose for advancing responsible operations.

COP28, a pivotal event, emphasized the global commitment to achieving environmental targets. The signing of the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action placed food at the core of international climate strategies, underlining the intersections of nature, food, and water in global discussions. The conference engaged many of us in previously unexplored discussions.