FAO at COP 26

Crises are negatively affecting the agri-food systems and the livelihoods of tens of millions of people, as countries around the world face increasing exposure to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, all of which have been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although agri-food systems contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, they are at the same time extremely vulnerable to climate change. Without urgent action, climate change will continue to put food production at risk, particularly in countries and regions that are already highly food insecure. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has a major role to play in addressing climate change, as its domain encompasses major sources of GHGs, potential victims of climate change, and mitigation potential though carbon pools and “sinks.”

To respond to these challenges, and as part of its ongoing commitment to advocate for and promote sustainable, efficient, and resilient agri-food systems to help combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation, FAO is holding a series of side events during COP 26. The events aim  to reinforce FAO’s commitment to supporting countries in the climate negotiations, particularly through enhancing action related to food and agriculture, ecosystems and biodiversity, and working with countries to access climate finance. Specific events pertain to FAO’s core mandate to: eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; reduce rural poverty; and make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable within the context of today’s era of climate change.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin will be covering the following FAO side events at COP 26 (times are GMT):

• 3 November: 12:30 – 14:00: Raising climate ambition and actions for agriculture and food systems: Boosting Koronivia
• 3 November: 13:15-14:30: Accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement through innovative climate-resilient agri-food systems
• 4 November: 11:30-12:45: Raising ambitions on climate action in the global dairy sector to achieve the Paris Agreement
• 4 November: 12:00-13:30: Renewable energy for agri-food systems: Towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement
• 8 November: 16:45-17:45: Engaging the private sector to implement agriculture and land use priorities of NDCs and NAPs
• 9 November, 11:00-12:30: Green and climate-resilient agriculture
• 10 November, 9:00-10:30: Voices from the field: participatory approaches of Climate Smart Agriculture practices (CSA), Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and indigenous Chakra systems
• 10 November, 15:30-16:30: Transformative action in the AFOLU sector and NDCs in the Near East and Africa