COP29: FAO promotes sustainable agrifood systems transformation for Europe and Central Asia to drive climate action

Agrifood systems account for one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, making them a significant contributor to climate change. At the same time, agrifood systems are suffering from the impacts of climate change and are amongst the most affected sectors. To meet the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global warming to 1.5°C while building resilience and supporting adaptation, a transition to sustainable agrifood systems is crucial. This shift not only mitigates climate change but also is fundamental to restoring biodiversity, reducing land degradation and restoring land, and eradicating hunger and poverty.

The growing recognition of sustainable agrifood systems in addressing climate change is reflected in international negotiations at the recent Conferences of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The day dedicated to Food, Agriculture and Water on 19 November 2024 at COP29 highlights this intensified focus.

The day opened with the launch of the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers (Harmoniya Initiative), a collaboration between the COP29 Presidency and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

Empowering farmers for a sustainable future

The Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers brings together various agricultural initiatives, networks, and partnerships to create a unified approach to sustainable agriculture. By combining efforts and sharing knowledge, Harmoniya Initiative aims to support farmers, particularly women and young people, to build resilient rural communities. 

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative Viorel Gutu emphasized the urgent need to strengthen small-scale farmers and producers at the COP29 High-Level Presidency event launching the Harmoniya Initiative. "By providing the necessary capacity and resources, we can empower farmers, the backbone of our agrifood systems, to implement sustainable agrifood solutions," Gutu stated. "FAO is proud to collaborate with the COP29 Presidency to bring this vital initiative to fruition."

Harmoniya Initiative also facilitates access to finance from both public and private sectors to advance the transition towards more sustainable agrifood systems. This is crucial, as climate financing in agriculture sector remains insufficient. In 2022, only 23 percent of climate-related development finance was allocated to agriculture, a decline from 37 percent in the previous decade. This deficiency is particularly concerning given the sector's vulnerability to climate change impacts, its importance for livelihoods, food and nutrition security and its significant contribution to and potential for mitigation of climate change.

To maximize the benefits of sustainable agriculture, significant investment is required. Climate finance flows to global agrifood systems must increase by 40 times. More specifically, to meet the Paris Agreement's targets for emissions reduction and climate resilience, global agrifood systems are estimated to require  approximately USD 1.1 trillion annually until 2030.

By investing in rural communities, we can specifically improve climate information services and promote practices such as sustainable land, soil and water management and climate-resilient crop varieties, thereby enabling a transformation to more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and efficient food systems.

“We must continue to design and implement such initiatives, ensuring that they are scalable and accessible to farmers worldwide. Enhancing financing requires close collaboration between governments, international organizations, and the private sector. This is the only way to bridge the gap between policy ambitions and on-the-ground realities,” underlined Viorel Gutu. 

FAO in Europe and Central Asia supports countries with accessing finance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other sources, to ensure targeted financial support is aligned with specific national needs and priorities for mitigation and adaptation in agrifood systems. 

Strengthening ambition 

In 2025, countries will submit their updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the commitments that they make to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of climate change mitigation as well as their overall priorities and needs in support of responding to climate change impacts. The renewed contributions will need to be more ambitious than the current commitments to get the world on track to 1.5C and towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

The upcoming NDCs will offer a crucial opportunity to strengthen country climate action. By prioritizing sustainable agrifood systems, countries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience, and ensure food security.
“We must include agrifood systems in the Nationally Determined Contributions. We must ensure they are in national plans and climate strategies. And we must translate strategies into action on the ground”, insisted Viorel Gutu. 

FAO will soon publish a policy analysis of nationally determined contributions in Europe and Central Asia, revealing progress made since the previous round of NDCs and the gaps to overcome if we are to reach the full climate potential of agrifood systems solutions in the context of climate change. 

Regional cooperation 

Regional cooperation on agrifood systems is essential to advance national action and implement global climate agreements effectively. While the latter provide a comprehensive framework, regional initiatives ensure that the specific needs and conditions of different countries are addressed in agrifood systems. This approach makes global climate goals more attainable and impactful.

This was the main message sent to the audience by Viorel Gutu during the closing of the the ministerial event titled “From Global Goals to Local Action: Regional initiatives to strengthen resilient agrifood systems” on 19 November. He indicated that “collaborative approach aligns national and international efforts and leads to more comprehensive climate resilience strategies.” 

As events in one country frequently impact neighbouring regions, and as resources become scarcer, regional collaboration in managing shared natural resources is critical.  

In response to these challenges, FAO is focusing on strengthening national capacities and enhancing processes for sustainable natural resources management in Europe and Central Asia. This includes efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change, reduce disaster risks, preserve biodiversity, and reduce the environmental impact of agrifood systems through facilitation of investment, innovation, and public-private partnerships.

To support the exchange of knowledge and promotion of good practices and enhance collaboration among countries, FAO has launched cross-sector platform, such as the Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture. 

Viorel Gutu also emphasized the importance of a water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus approach to climate action at another high-level COP29 event, on accelerating climate action through regional cooperation. By recognizing the interlinkages between these sectors, countries can develop more integrated and effective climate strategies. 
FAO's active participation in COP29 as well as the CBD COP16 and UNCCD COP 16 demonstrates its commitment to addressing the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity, land degradation and food security in line with its commitment and support of reaching the goals enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. By working with governments, international organizations, and civil society, FAO is driving the transformation of agrifood systems towards a more sustainable and resilient future.