More than 130 countries have agreed to prioritize measures to combat climate change in the global food system. The signed agreement, titled the Leaders Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Action, marks the first commitment made to cut carbon emissions in food and agriculture.
The declaration aims to address the interactions between food systems, agriculture, and climate, crucial for achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. It was announced at a session of the World Climate Action Summit (WCAS) as part of COP28 taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
The full list of countries includes 134 nations representing over 5.7 billion people, 70% of food consumed worldwide, nearly 500 million farmers, and 76% of total emissions from the global food system.
A mobilization of more than USD$2.5 billion in funding to support food security was also announced, as well as a $200 million partnership between the UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The latter will support agricultural research, scaling agricultural innovations and funding technical assistance in carrying forward the declaration.
“There is no path to achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach, that does not urgently address the interactions between food systems, agriculture, and climate,” said Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment as well as COP28 Food Systems Lead.
“Countries must put food systems and agriculture at the heart of their climate ambitions, addressing both global emissions and protecting the lives and livelihoods of farmers living on the front line of climate change. Today’s commitment from countries around the world will help to build a global food system fit for the future.”
COP28 Declaration: Building more sustainable food systems
Other key initiatives announced include the launch of the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes by COP28 UAE, the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). This agenda aims to convert 160 million hectares into regenerative agriculture by 2030, with a commitment of USD$2.2 billion in future investment and the involvement of 3.6 million farmers globally.
Furthermore, the High-Level Champions, in collaboration with various stakeholders, have initiated a Call to Action for Transforming Food Systems, supporting the declaration and highlighting the urgency of action on food systems.
This follows calls from 131 major companies urging attendees at the COP28 summit to agree to a timeline on reaching 100% decarbonized power systems. They proposed that 100% decarbonized power systems should be reached by 2025 for richer economies, while financial help should be offered to developing countries to abandon fossil fuels by 2040 at the latest.
“Our businesses are feeling the impacts and cost of increasing extreme weather events resulting from climate change,” companies including Nestlé and Unilever said in a letter. “To decarbonise the global energy system, we need to ramp up clean energy as fast as we phase out the use and production of fossil fuels.”
“Today signals a turning point, embedding sustainable agriculture and food systems as critical components in both dealing with climate change and building food systems fit for the future,” added Almheiri. “Together we will deliver lasting change for families, farmers and the future.”
COP28 is expected to gather over 70,000 participants, from heads of state and government officials to international industry leaders, private sector representatives, academics, experts, youth, and non-state actors.
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