COP28 calls on nations to align food systems to climate action efforts

The COP28 UAE Presidency has called on governments to align their food systems and agriculture strategies to enable resilience to climate impact.

It is part of the COP28's Food Systems and Agriculture Agenda, which was launched by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, on the sidelines of the UN food summit in Rome on Monday.

The heads of state are encouraged to sign the "first-ever" Leaders Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture and Climate Action, that urges them to align their national food systems and agriculture strategies, with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

In addition, the COP28 Presidency called on a diverse group of stakeholders in the key sectors to accelerate existing initiatives across food systems, agriculture and climate action.

The COP28 Presidency has also created a partnership of 15 leading CEOs and institutions from across the agriculture supply chain to accelerate existing initiatives across production, consumption, food loss and waste. 

A flagship initiative to promote the widespread adoption of regenerative agriculture underpinned by procurement and investment commitments was also launched as a part of this collaboration. This campaign will be co-chaired with the UN Climate Change High Level Champions, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The COP28 Presidency urged action to scale up food and agriculture innovation, leveraging national and international mechanisms – including the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), the CGIAR and the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture.

The COP28 Presidency will work with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and a diverse set of partners to promote the Agenda.

Earlier today, I was honoured to announce @COP28_UAE food and agriculture agenda during the first day of #UNFSS2023 in Rome, which consists of four key pillars

1- National leadership and action; where we call on all governments to work with us in developing and signing a Leaders… pic.twitter.com/yLorZfIFYZ

— Mariam Almheiri | مريم المهيري (@mariammalmheiri) July 24, 2023