COP28 – DAY 10: Food, Agriculture and Water Day

In the build-up to COP28 Oxford University released their 2023 State of the Climate Report which detailed the alarming set of catastrophic climate impacts on weather systems. No industry is more exposed to the ramifications of volatile climate systems than agriculture, the one economic sector that every human being on the planet is fundamentally reliant upon. Thus far there have been no requirements for the integration of food and land use in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) or Long-Term Strategies (LTSs).

As such, Anthesis (formerly Climate Neutral Group) welcomes the Emirates COP28 Leaders Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action announced at COP28 and endorsed by 134 heads of state. The Declaration calls for food systems transformation in response to climate change and demonstrates growing political will to scale up research and innovation in sustainable food systems and agriculture.

For the COP28 Food, Agriculture and Water Day on the 10th of December, Anthesis | Climate Neutral Group calls on negotiators to work towards the inclusion of a concrete work plan and coordination structure for the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security, that addresses sustainable food systems in the global stocktake decision text.

“The fundamental challenge of climate change is how to provide food, fibre and materials for 8 billion people. Without urgent action to address sustainability in food systems, no amount of fossil fuel emission reductions will provide for the needs of the global population.”