Stories tagged: Cancun

New Roadmap for Climate-Smart Agriculture Announced at COP16 Negotiations in Cancun

unfcccA new initiative that calls for agriculture to be part of the solution to climate change, and not part of the problem, has been launched at the COP16 climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico.

Over the past two weeks, global leaders and policy makers have been debating a global climate change deal but no concrete agreement has been made. The Roadmap for Action: Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change, a new reiteration of the workplan launched at the Hague conference last month, proposes key actions to be taken to link agriculture-related investments and policies with the transition to climate-smart growth.

It advocates getting the right policies and programs in place that will increase farm productivity and incomes, make agriculture more resilient to variations in climate and make the sector part of the solution to climate change by sequestering more carbon into the soil and biomass.

Supported by high-level experts including Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and Robert B. Zoellick, President of the World Bank Group, it offers some progress towards a dedicated work programme for agriculture within a broader climate agreement.

Zoellick said,“Agriculture, forestry, and land use change account for more than 30% of greenhouse gas emissions.  So we need to make the agriculture sector and soil carbon part of the solution to climate change. A number of countries are already making real progress, but the immediate challenge is making sure that financing flows in the right directions – so far only 2% of flows have gone to Africa.”

There is a growing recognition that agriculture in developing countries must become “climate smart” to cope with the combined challenges of feeding a warmer, more heavily populated world.

Agriculture and Rural Development Day at the COP16 Climate Talks in Cancun

On Saturday, 4 December, five hundred people from across the world, including policy makers, farmers, scientists and representatives from the private sector and civil society, came together to identify and discuss the best practices and technologies in the agriculture sector that can help to meet emissions reduction goals through agriculture.

Agriculture and Rural Development Day took place parallel to COP16 climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico. Following on from the success of Agriculture Day 2009, which helped increase recognition of agriculture’s role in a global climate agenda, this year’s event focused on identifying the sustainable agriculture solutions to meeting food security and climate change challenges.

Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Chief Executive Officer of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) said, “Sub-Saharan Africa is among the regions that will be hardest hit by climate change. Unless action is taken now to help farmers respond, the impacts of climate change could derail the region’s revitalised efforts to transform the agricultural sector and could deflate the optimism this has created in achieving a uniquely African ‘Green and Rainbow’ Revolution.”

Howard Minigh, President and CEO of CropLife International, said, “If left unaddressed, climate change will seriously impact farmers’ ability to grow sufficient crops, potentially leading to a world where food security is a luxury enjoyed by a minority.  The good news is that science is already helping farmers to do more with less, and we can intensify that effort to help reduce agriculture’s carbon emissions.”

At an “Ideas Marketplace”, experts were invited to share their experiences in technology and policy that are helping farmers to significantly contribute to climate change mitigation, whilst providing a sustainable supply of food.

Five roundtable discussions followed, offering perspectives on both the technologies that can help farmers meet stated emissions reduction goals and also the incentives and mechanisms that can enable and encourage farmers to take part.

Morgane Danielou, Director at the International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA), said, “Solutions to climate change and food security need to be tailored to local conditions and local needs. Public-private partnerships between research organizations, governments and industry are important collaborations to help adapt agricultural technologies to the unique climate situations faced around the world.”

Minigh continued, “The good news is that science is already helping farmers to do more with less, and we can intensify that effort to help reduce agriculture’s carbon emissions.”

Agriculture & Rural Development Day: Meeting Food Security and Climate Change Challenges

Screen shot 2010-11-17 at 17.48.49The role of agriculture in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies will be the central focus at Agriculture and Rural Development Day, running parallel to COP16 in Cancun, Mexico.

On 4 December, five hundred delegates from across the world, including policy makers, farmers, scientists and representatives from the private sector and civil society, will meet to discuss sustainable agriculture solutions to meet food security and climate change challenges.

Following on from the successes of last year, where there was an increased recognition of the link between agriculture, food security and climate change, this year’s event will build on that progress and help to push for the adoption of solid climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The main discussion will look at identifying policies and practical solutions to reduce agriculture-related greenhouse gas emissions, and will hear regional perspectives on risks and opportunities for agriculture in a changing climate.

Five roundtable discussions will follow, sharing knowledge on agricultural intensification, agricultural mitigation and carbon sequestration, pro-poor rural adaptation, capturing carbon finance and science and technological aspects.

Speakers at Agriculture and Rural Development Day include:

  • Inger Andersen, Vice President of Sustainable Development, World Bank
  • Prof Xu Yinlong, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science
  • Senator Alberto Cárdenas Jiménez, Mexico
  • Ing. M.C. Ignacio Rivera Rodriguez, Vice-Minister for Agricultural Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), Mexico

In the run up to the event, the Agriculture Day website is running a blog where the international community is sharing ideas and stories. Read the Farming First post here.

Online registration for participants has been closed due to overwhelming demand. People wanting to attend are however encouraged to apply. The event committee still reviews applications on a case-by-case basis.