The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is happening in Belém, Brazil. This gathering brings together leaders, scientists, and activists from around the world to discuss urgent actions needed to combat climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is actively participating, focusing on agriculture and food security.
Kaveh Zahedi, the FAO’s Director of Climate Change, emphasizes that climate extremes are already impacting food producers. Farmers, fishers, and pastoralists are facing rising challenges. Unpredictable weather patterns and a surge in pests are disrupting food production. As a result, global hunger is at a critical level, with approximately 700 million people still facing food insecurity. Without intervention, some regions may not be able to support rain-fed agriculture, and one-third of global agricultural land is already degraded.
What are FAO’s main goals for COP30? They aim to emphasize the importance of sustainable food systems for addressing climate change. They believe that transforming agriculture is essential for achieving the Paris Agreement. FAO plans to support countries during the negotiations and uplift the voices of those most affected by climate change, like farmers and Indigenous Peoples.
Three key priorities stand out for COP30:
- Ensure agrifood systems are included in COP decisions.
- Integrate agrifood solutions into national climate plans.
- Increase climate finance for agriculture, which currently receives only about 4% of climate-related funding.
COP30 represents a crucial opportunity to place agriculture at the heart of climate discussions. This includes recognizing the vital role of forests and Indigenous knowledge. For example, in Brazil, farmers are reviving a traditional method called cabruca, where cocoa trees grow under a canopy of native plants. This kind of sustainable practice can help secure a better future for our planet.
In short, COP30 should be the moment agriculture takes center stage in the fight against climate change. It’s not just about talking; it’s about taking action for the future of food and our environment.
For more insights on agriculture and climate change, you can check out the FAO’s official reports here.
