Food Systems and Climate Action

Monday, 24th July, 16:30-18:00

Climate action across agri-food systems is urgent to build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and to reduce their carbon footprint to meet the growing demand for food globally.

Agriculture and food systems are increasingly vulnerable and impacted by climate change and its effects, with cascading effects on food security and nutrition, poverty and livelihoods, particularly in Africa and Small Island Development States (SIDS). Food systems represent up to 42% of global emissions, meaning that a sustainable food systems transformation is fundamental to achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Only 1.7% of the global “climate finance” is targeted to smallholder farmers, reflecting the need to increase the inclusivity of climate finance mechanisms.

The session will focus on the following questions:

What are possible incentives to promote resilient, sustainable and low-emission agricultural production along the whole value chain?
How to strengthen and promote efficient local markets and circular economy, with a particular focus on the role of primary producers?
How technology can be successfully leveraged for climate adaptation, early warning systems and risk management?

This session aims to:

Promote an integrated approach to deliver on climate action and food systems transformation, which are often complementary means for delivering the SDGs.
Scale up public and private investments at the global and national levels in the food system transformation.
Increase transparency and coordination as part of a roadmap to achieve the SDG2 through the 1.5 degrees ambition.
Prioritize small-holder farmers to achieve long-term food security and climate action.