CFS side event: Advancing food systems and climate action through the Convergence Initiative

Rome, Italy – On October 21, 2024, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, in collaboration with FAO, the Netherlands, South Africa, the COP28 UAE Presidency, the European Commission, and the NDC Partnership, hosted a side event during the 52nd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS52). Titled The Convergence Initiative – Converging Food Systems and Climate Action for Better Food Security and a Sustainable Future, the event explored strategies to integrate food systems and climate action, emphasizing multi-stakeholder collaboration and practical approaches for policy development at national and regional levels.

Laying the foundation for the Convergence Initiative

FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero introduced the FAO Roadmap, Achieving SDG 2 Without Breaching the 1.5°C Threshold, which outlines a balanced approach to transforming agrifood systems sustainably. He explained that the roadmap proposes targeted actions and global policies that align food security goals with environmental protection. He highlighted the Convergence Initiative’s role in supporting these efforts by fostering collaboration and aligning strategies to drive coordinated solutions for food systems and climate action.

The COP28 UAE Presidency highlighted the significance of the COP28 Declaration on Food and Agriculture, endorsed by 160 global leaders, which underscores the need to transform agriculture and advance climate action. To bolster these efforts, the UAE launched the Technical Cooperation Collaborative (TCC), designed to unite key partners, optimize resources, and drive collective impact. Zak Bleicher, COP28 UAE representative, stated, “We launched the TCC to bring together leading technical partners. Our goal is to enhance implementation, avoid duplication, and ensure that initiatives are responsive to national priorities.”

Translating agreements into action

Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, described the Convergence Initiative as a key tool for aligning national food systems transformation with climate strategies like NDCs and NAPs. “Our goal is to support countries in developing cohesive strategies that maximize impact and build resilience,” he noted. He emphasized that the initiative fosters collaboration among governments and partners to create synergies, drive institutional change, and tackle food security, climate, and biodiversity challenges effectively.

The panel discussion emphasized the importance of multilateral collaboration, with Marcel Beukeboom,  Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations Agencies in Rome, highlighting how the Convergence Initiative helps turn global agreements like the Paris Agreement into actionable national strategies. He stressed that innovation should focus on adapting and building upon existing solutions, leveraging multi-stakeholder engagement to create effective, cohesive action plans that address food systems and climate challenges.

Laura Delamonica of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Brazil’s commitment as one of the first Latin American countries to implement the Convergence Initiative. She explained how Brazil, the host of COP30 and a major agricultural producer, is aligning its climate and food systems policies to tackle hunger, poverty, and environmental issues. “Brazil’s approach focuses on resilience and efficiency, using our ‘RESPECT’ framework—Resilience, Efficiency, Science, People, Energy, Change, and Trade—to guide our efforts,” she stated.

Amanda McKee, Director for Knowledge and Learning at the NDC Partnership, noted the increasing demand from developing countries for support in integrating food systems into climate action. “Nearly half of the countries supported by the NDC Partnership have requested assistance related to food systems, particularly in agriculture, clean energy, and nutrition. The Convergence Initiative is a key opportunity to coordinate global efforts, enhance technical support, and close resource gaps to meet these needs,” she explained.

Bridging the financial gap to end hunger

Speakers emphasized the need for streamlined processes to achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), highlighting the importance of coordination across ministries and collaboration with non-state actors. They stressed the value of policy alignment, harmonized support, and results-driven partnerships with development agencies to ensure effective implementation.

The side event was an important platform for participants to share insights, align efforts, and set a unified path for food systems transformation and climate action. Moving forward, national inception workshops will pilot the Convergence Initiative in six countries. These workshops will aim to develop Convergence Action Blueprints (CAB), strategic guides for integrating food systems and climate efforts, and establish Convergence Groups, collaborative platforms to drive and monitor this alignment.