CEMIRIDE endorses submission on the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on the Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture and Food Security

CEMIRIDE endorses submission on the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on the Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture and Food Security
A global coalition of organisations from across the food systems community, which Centre for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE) is a member of, is calling on Parties to adopt a food systems approach within the four-year Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work (SSJW) on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security. This is in a joint Submission to the Subsidiary Bodies at their 58th Session on elements of the joint work.
The food systems approach provides comprehensive and holistic perspective to agriculture and food security in line with paragraph 14 (a) of the SSJW on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security which underscores that the joint work should aim at “promoting a holistic approach to addressing issues related to agriculture and food security”. “The food systems approach should be aligned to climate change mitigation and adaptation relevant under the UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, and other global and national agendas,” says the statement.
CEMIRIDE supports this position because the food systems approach will ensure sustainability hence deliver food security and nutrition for all (especially indigenous peoples, including the disadvantaged gender groups), without compromising the welfare of future generations through harmful economic, social, and environmental practices. This is critical because food security and human rights of indigenous peoples, including pastoralist communities must be protected, promoted, and always enjoyed and all places.
The approach will support farmers to enhance adaptation so that they can build resilience to climate change which is very important to the indigenous peoples who bear the brunt burden of climate change. With regards to the governance structure of the SSJW the global collation has recommended that it is functioned on the basis of Human Rights frameworks, including United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP); United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This is with the realization that the human right to adequate food and nutrition, and other connected rights, including the rights of women, Indigenous Peoples, workers, peasants, and other smallscale food producers must provide the parameters for food system transformation.
Working to secure minorities and indigenous peoples’ rights The coalition suggests that the first workshop should be organized on the theme of food systems encompassing: Nature positive food production; healthy and sustainable diets and nutrition; and food loss and waste, in line with paragraph 15 (b) which requests the secretariat to hold in-session workshops on agreed topics related to agriculture and food security.
Food systems discourse is important because evidence shows that up to a third of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to food systems, and that food production is the most significant driver of terrestrial biodiversity loss and natural ecosystem degradation. There is, therefore, need for urgent and profound transformation of food systems if global warming is to be limited to 1.5°C, prevent irreversible biodiversity loss, and achieve food security. Based on the evidence, there will be no food security if the impacts of climate change are not minimised and there is no way to minimize the impacts of climate change without transforming food systems, from farm to fork.
The workshop, based on the recommended topics, will enable parties should build a shared understanding of the role of food systems in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss while ensuring food and nutrition security for all, and agree on an interpretation of food systems in the context of the joint work on agriculture and food security.

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For more information please contact: Nyang’ori Ohenjo at [email protected]; or
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