• Kenya is among 150 countries that are signatories to the Emirates Declaration.
• The signatories committed to integrating agriculture and food systems into their climate action among other commitments.
Image: AGATHA NGOTHO
Image: FILE
The United Nations has said that global agrifood systems are the climate solution.
QU Dongyu, the Director General Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN said agrifood systems are climate solutions, and that increased collaboration and finance are needed if the world is to achieve the Paris Agreement and the sustainable development goals.
He said FAO has launched a new Global Roadmap process that seeks to eradicate hunger and keep the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement alive.
At the just-concluded UN Climate Conference (COP28) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates presidency launched the Emirates Declaration. The declaration was on sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems and climate action.
This was endorsed by more than 150 countries including Kenya. The non-binding declaration emphasised the transformative potential of agriculture in responding to climate change and ensuring global food security.
The signatories committed to integrating agriculture and food systems into their climate action, adopting inclusive policies, securing finance, promoting innovations and strengthening international trade.
Dongyu said in a statement that the Emirates Declaration, guided by the new FAO Global Roadmap on achieving SDG 2 without breaching the 1.5°C threshold, are key instruments for achieving the SDG targets, leaving no one behind.
“The FAO roadmap process, presented at the first-ever UN-climate-COP Food, Agriculture and Water Day, is aimed at eliminating hunger and all forms of malnutrition without exceeding the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement,” he said.
“It outlines a comprehensive strategy spanning the next three years that encompasses a diverse portfolio of solutions across ten distinct domains of action," Dongyu said.
"This includes clean energy, crops, fisheries and aquaculture, food loss and waste, forests and wetlands, healthy diets, livestock, soil and water, and data and inclusive policies.”
To further support the agriculture and food security track of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP28 UAE Presidency, CGIAR, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Bank announced the creation of the Agrifood Sharm-El Sheikh Support Program.
This is a three-year initiative to facilitate dialogue and knowledge sharing among global and regional policymakers.
The programme aims to drive consensus within the UNFCCC process which did not achieve a full outcome in Dubai - and ultimately enable countries and regions to unlock finance and support for farmers, food producers, small agribusinesses and local communities.
Much attention at COP28 focused on the Global Stocktake, one of the pillars of the Paris Agreement.
At a high-level event with heads of state and government last week, the FAO director general highlighted the crucial role of agrifood systems in climate change adaptation.
Dongyu emphasised the opportunities across crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.
He stressed that sustainable practices could also mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, while fostering resilience in agricultural communities.
He pointed out the breakthrough agreement reached by world leaders to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund.
“In support of this critical track, FAO launched a report on the escalating threat of climate change-induced loss and damage to agrifood systems. The report emphasises the need for immediate actions and increased financing to address vulnerabilities,” he added.