COP28 UAE Presidency Puts Food Security At Forefront Of Climate Change Agenda
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the host of the upcoming United Nations climate change conference, COP28, is taking a significant step to address the pressing issue of food security in the context of climate action.
Under the UAE presidency, COP28 aims to revolutionise food systems and integrate them into national climate strategies while also ensuring the fulfillment of the annual USD 100 billion climate finance commitment to support developing nations in their climate efforts.
A cornerstone of COP28's food agenda is a declaration designed to guide countries committed to transforming their food systems. This declaration, referred to as the "Emirates Declaration," is the first pillar of the agenda, emphasising the crucial role of political will in driving food system reform.
The UAE plans to distribute this declaration to agriculture ministers across member countries, urging them to endorse it. The objective is to ensure that food systems become an integral part of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), national adaptation plans (NAPs), and national biodiversity strategies.
The second pillar of COP28's food agenda focuses on non-state actors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The goal is to strengthen their involvement in shaping the discourse around food systems.
Innovation takes center stage as the third pillar of this ambitious agenda. Despite being a water-scarce country with limited arable land, the UAE has made significant strides in agricultural innovation. Innovations have enabled the cultivation of crops like tomatoes in desert environments and even the production of salmon.
The fourth pillar centers on scaling up financial support. The UAE aims to mobilise increased private sector investment in food system transformation, ensuring that these funds reach those in dire need of support.
To give momentum to this agenda, the UAE is soliciting feedback on the "Emirates Declaration" from agriculture ministers, with a deadline set for the end of September. By October, the declaration will be circulated to all member states for their endorsement.
One of the key priorities of COP28 is to catalyse the activation of the USD 100 billion climate finance commitment, with countries like the United States and Germany already indicating readiness to contribute.
Notably, the UAE's proximity to Africa has prompted a strategic focus on assisting the continent in addressing climate change-related challenges. Recognising the vulnerability of African nations to climate change impacts and their limited contribution to global emissions, the UAE is determined to support Africa in achieving food and water security. This support is seen as critical, given the UAE's reliance on food imports from Africa.
The COP28 president's tour of African nations aims to galvanise additional funding for the region, recognising the pressing need for financing to support climate resilience, agriculture and water management in a continent experiencing population growth and increased climate-related challenges.
