COP29: Food, Agriculture and Water

Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Environment, described the initiative as “one of the most exciting being launched at COP29, representing an unparalleled opportunity to collectively drive climate solutions through agrifood systems.”

Agriculture

A study by the FAO found Agriculture bears a disproportionate burden from climate-related disasters, suffering hundreds of billions of pounds in losses annually—equivalent to 5% of global agricultural GDP over the past three decades.

The Harmoniya Initiative connects over 90 global and regional efforts and the key goals are as follows:

1. Encourage Collaboration
   • Simplify and clarify the agrifood initiative landscape
   • Offer a platform for sharing practical solutions and experiences

2. Attract Investments
   • Make agrifood system transformations more appealing to investors
   • Partner with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Public Development Banks (PDBs)

3. Build Resilience
   • Support climate-resilient villages and rural communities
   • Empower women and young farmers and fishers to lead adaptation efforts

 The Harmoniya Initiative is a practical step forward in addressing climate change through agriculture. It aligns global efforts, attracts much-needed funding, and equips rural communities with tools to adapt.

A Press Conference with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality at the White House Brenda Mallory focused on alternative agricultural methods. Tom Vilsack encouraged a focus on innovation and "the need to move away from biotechnology and biomodified foods... the reality is that the world population continues to grow and that causes us to reflect on the system… we need to look at innovation and to science to do more with less. This would be complex enough, but put it in the context of a changing climate and you have a much more difficult objective”.

Food

Agrifood systems are emerging as a top priority in the fight against climate change, according to an analysis of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Speaker Gonzalo Muñoz, opened “Mercy For Animals: A Call to Accelerate Action on Food” by noting that this is the "first time that food has been at the top of the agenda for COP talks".

Nearly all countries (94%) identify agrifood systems as essential for climate adaptation, with 91% including them in mitigation strategies. Priorities include adopting sustainable farming practices, reducing the use of chemical pesticides, improving water management, and enhancing biodiversity. These measures aim to lower emissions while safeguarding natural ecosystems. 

Food insecurity and biodiversity loss are the most frequently cited climate-related risks, featuring in 88% of NDCs. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly affected, with climate change driving increased hunger and poverty, threatening hard-earned development progress. 

There was emphasis on the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action which has now been endorsed by 160 heads of state.

This declaration represents farm organizations, 1.2 billion farmers, 2.2 billion residents and 1 trillion dollars in revenues with 1/3 operating in developing countries.

This collective action originated at the COP28 conference in Dubai in 2023. 

The three main areas of focus from the session were:

1. Scale finance
2. Strengthen global targets / action plans and strategies
3. Support farmers and indigenous peoples and local communities

There was a suggestion of further content being issued in the coming days, linked to land restoration, drought resilience and increasing capacity to produce foods.

Water

As part of COP29’s continuing focus on Water, Day 7 featured a press conference on the topic of ‘PBV: Youth Engagement and Empowerment - Action for the UN Ocean Decade’.

Although significant progress has been made, with a "decade of ocean science for sustainable development", there is much more progress to come. In particular, there was recognition that there is a lack of understanding about the impacts of CO2 in relation to ocean acidification. The ocean has absorbed between 30 and 40% of our atmospheric CO2 emissions since the Industrial Revolution and this has had an impact on the acidity of surface waters. PH decline will impact biodiversity, giving rise to an objective of slowing down the impacts.

The parting note on the conference from Emily McGlone from Peace Boat US was that "ocean action is climate action".

Further reading on COP29

COP29