The United Arab Emirates, COP28, COP29 Azerbaijan, the World Bank, the Italian Mission to the United Nations, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) co-hosted an event titled “Advancing climate action through sustainable agriculture and resilience”. “Food Systems” during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 22, 2024.
Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, highlighted the importance of sustainable food systems in the global climate challenge and the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate. The event kicked off with a keynote speech highlighting how the project was adopted. Actions launched at last year’s COP28 increased global ambition in this regard.
“COP28 has put food at the center of the climate change agenda and we must use this legacy to expand global cooperation in transforming food systems,” he said. Almost a year after its announcement, 160 countries have announced their participation in the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action. These countries are beginning to align their national food systems and agricultural strategies with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
โThe Declaration’s ambitious, action-oriented approach will ensure a food-secure future and make a significant contribution to achieving the United Nations’ second goal of ‘zero hunger.”’ It also highlights the impact of climate change. building resilience and protecting food systems around the world. In addition to this, the Declaration continues to be recognized in a number of multilateral agreements, particularly in the G7 and G20. โ
He added: “The creation of the COP Presidency Troika by COP28, COP29 and COP30 is an opportunity for the international community to become even more ambitious in its domestic and international efforts.”
The event provided a platform for UN Member States and other stakeholders to share actions they have taken in their national contexts to strengthen agriculture and food systems in light of climate change. It also provided an opportunity to share views on potential deliverables at COP29 and related forums.
Stakeholders highlighted key agriculture, food and climate milestones critical to maintaining momentum from COP28 to COP29 and COP30.
Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Director of the International Affairs Office of the Presidential Court and CEO of 2PointZero, said: The Gates Foundation at COP28 is focused on exactly this purpose. We are proud to be the first donor country from the MENA region to join CGIAR’s System Council, and we look forward to working closely with CGIAR and all our global partners in the coming years to support smallholder farmers. We plan to develop and expand promising innovations that can help. Farmers are improving their livelihoods in the face of climate change. โ
FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dong-yu supported this point by stating: FAO is pleased to host this initiative at its headquarters as part of the Food and Agriculture Partnership for Sustainable Transformation. We need to ensure that agricultural systems are fully integrated into national climate and biodiversity planning processes and strategies. โ
Nigar Alpadalai, UN High-Level Champion of Climate Change for Azerbaijan at COP29: โAs the COP29 Presidency, the Baku Harmoniyah Climate Change Initiative for Farmers and the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate are committed to responding to this call to action. Our collective efforts at COP29 aim to empower farmers and rural communities, as well as foster broader change in the way we approach food systems and climate adaptation. The Presidency will continue to work deeply to ensure that these efforts serve as a platform for concrete and scalable solutions that have real impact where they are needed most.
Stefano Gatti, Director General of Italian Development Cooperation: โItaly is one of the signatories of the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action and a founding member of the Technical Cooperation Cooperative (TCC). We look forward to continuing this important cooperation with the UAE.โ
The event will have a particular focus on Member States’ thinking on the role of agriculture and food systems in the next NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs, and how to accelerate all forms of financing to support this critical part of climate change. It was done.