The COP28 summit commenced at Expo City in Dubai, and on its second day, the COP28 Presidency announced that 134 world leaders signed the historic agriculture, food, and climate action declaration. Additionally, there was an announcement about mobilising over US$2.5 billion in funding to address food security challenges amidst the fight against climate change. Another significant development revealed during the summit was a new collaboration between the UAE and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, focusing on innovation in food systems to tackle the impact of climate change.
The "COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action" was introduced during a dedicated session of the World Climate Action Summit (WCAS), presided over by Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia; Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy; Fiame Naomi Mata?afa, the Prime Minister of Samoa; and Anthony J. Blinken, the Secretary of State for the United States of America.
It aims to tackle global emissions while safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of farmers residing on the frontlines of climate change.
The declaration, endorsed by 134 countries with a combined population exceeding 5.7 billion and nearly 500 million farmers, who generate 70% of our food, addresses 76% of emissions from global food systems, amounting to 25% of total global emissions.
Backing the declaration is crucial for fortifying food systems, enhancing climate resilience, lowering global emissions, and contributing to the global fight against hunger in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This declaration, the first of its kind in the COP process, underscores the imperative for collective action on climate change, impacting vulnerable populations and communities worldwide.