As the need for climate action becomes increasingly important worldwide, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is set to discuss the pivotal role of agrifood systems as a cornerstone for sustainable solutions at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP28. The FAO Director-General QU Dongyu will undertake this at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12. This global event is anticipated to have over 65,000 attendees, including UNFCCC member states, world leaders, the private sector, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and notable climate action advocates.
Dongyu explained that the climate and food crises are inseparable, and investing in agrifood systems and rural areas will create the concrete solutions needed to address the impacts of the climate crisis.
The FAO aims to highlight how the transformation of agrifood systems accelerates climate action for the benefit of people, prosperity, and the planet during COP28.
Discussions and negotiations at COP28 will address critical workstreams, including finalising details of the loss and damage finance facility established at COP27, advancing global finance objectives for climate change mitigation and adaptation, and addressing the emissions gap. The conference will conclude with the first-ever global stocktake, a process to assess progress towards Paris Agreement goals.
FAO, aligning with the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action, is committed to supporting its Members in implementing agrifood systems solutions. COP28 provides a crucial platform for collaborative dialogue on the distinctive role of agrifood systems in combating climate change. Recognising that the agrifood sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, the FAO said that finding innovative solutions within agrifood systems will directly contribute to climate action, foster resilience, safeguard biodiversity, and ensure global food security.
While FAO's existing frameworks support solutions for better production, nutrition, environment, and life, realising a transformation of agrifood systems to address the climate crisis necessitates scaled-up investment at local, national, and global levels. FAO's participation at COP28 centres on a collective call to scale up investments, embrace innovative financing, and implement transformative strategies for a climate-resilient future.
FAO will co-host the Food and Agriculture Pavilion, offering technical advice and leading events alongside IFAD, CGIAR, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Science and innovation will be showcased, demonstrating climate solutions within agrifood systems, from solar-powered water irrigation to cutting-edge technologies addressing food loss and waste.
