AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS FINALLY AT THE CENTRE OF THE CLIMATE DEBATE AT COP28
- COP28: historic agreement on agriculture and food systems by 134 countries.
- USD 2.5 billion mobilised for food security and climate.
- An agreement on the roadmap for concrete climate action on agriculture and food security is expected by the end of COP28 at the joint work in Sharm-el-Sheik.
COP28 in Dubai also starts with a bang in terms of progress on agriculture and food systems.
Historically, the topic of food and agriculture had remained at the margins of the climate debate, despite the fact that this sector accounts for about a third of global emissions and is at the same time highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
COP28 marks what has been described as a historic turning point: 134 countries, including Italy, approved a Declaration, the first in the history of climate COPs, on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action, committing to include agriculture and food systems in their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)(1). Together, the signatory countries account for 70% of production and 76% of total food system emissions globally(2).
In addition, a broad coalition of more than 150 non-state actors (farmers, corporations, cities, indigenous peoples, youth, consumers, financial institutions, philanthropists and others) joined the Declaration of Intent by signing a Call to Action for the Transformation of Food Systems for the Benefit of People, Nature and the Climate, in order to promote concrete action and accountability by governments, corporations and financial actors, and also contributing specific commitments to the shared agenda(3).
On the financial side, the mobilisation of more than USD 2.5 billion in funding to support food security by combating climate change was also announced, as well as a partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a total of USD 200 million, focused on agricultural research and innovation, and on financing technical assistance for the implementation of the Declaration.
Although the Declaration represents an important achievement in bringing the food issue to the centre of the climate agenda, it will only really make a difference if it is followed up in practice.
A programme to realise the commitment to transform food systems to combat climate change was established last year at COP27. The Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security is a four-year programme to address agriculture and food security issues (according to Decision 3/CP.27, paragraph 14), but negotiations on a roadmap are still ongoing.
In the informal consultations of the Sharm-el-Sheikh Joint Work that have taken place so far during COP28, the importance of avoiding a mere repetition of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) in the programme, which ends in 2026, was highlighted by the spokespersons of some G77+ countries (including Kenya and Argentina), and rather building on the achievements of the KJWA to move from technical dialogues to action.
The KJWA was established at COP23 to address six(4) issues related to the role of the agricultural sector in climate change. KJWA has contributed to the sharing of scientific and technical knowledge, but there remain limitations in translating the results into concrete climate action.
The hope for this COP28 is that parties will agree on a roadmap for the next three years including (consistent with Decision 3/CP.27) thematic workshops, annual reports and the creation of an online portal for information sharing.
Article by Annalisa Barozzi, Italian Climate Network Volunteer
(1) COP28 UAE DECLARATION ON SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS AND CLIMATE ACTION