Why Climate Summits Must Elevate Agricultural Voices for a Sustainable Future

At the recent COP30 summit in Belém, officials made an important connection: climate change directly impacts poverty and food security. For the first time, representatives from 43 nations and the European Union came together to sign the Belém Declaration. This document emphasizes how climate change affects vulnerable populations, calling for urgent action.

The declaration pushes for continued funding for climate change efforts, stressing that nations need to focus more on adapting to its effects. The focus should be on solutions that benefit people, like social protection programs and agricultural insurance, to help communities build resilience.

As reported, issues like climate change and environmental decline worsen hunger and poverty, jeopardizing access to clean water and healthcare. These factors intensify inequalities, which makes life harder for the most affected communities. The declaration highlights that climate finance should prioritize projects that provide work and support smallholder farmers and traditional communities.

However, there’s a gap. Current funding meets less than 10% of what is needed. Experts estimate that transitioning to sustainable farming practices will require $200 billion to $450 billion each year over the next decade. Yet, the recent summit faced criticism for not making strides in agriculture and food security, despite their potential for significant benefits.

A study by the Food and Agriculture Organization shows that almost all countries have included agriculture in their climate plans. In fact, 94% of these plans address agricultural adaptation, while 91% focus on mitigation. But while many plans advocate for sustainable farming, they often overlook other critical areas like reducing food waste and changing consumption habits. These adjustments could significantly lower carbon emissions.

Unsustainable farming is a leading cause of biodiversity loss and uses around 70% of freshwater resources. Moreover, experts warn that if current trends continue, emissions from food systems might push global temperatures beyond the 1.5°C goal set in the Paris Agreement.

Transforming food systems is crucial; research suggests that this could contribute to at least 20% of the emission reductions needed to meet climate targets. Most recent climate plans included at least one agriculture-related initiative. At the same time, food systems are vital for over 500 million smallholder farmers whose livelihoods are increasingly threatened by climate change.

Sadly, over 700 million people suffer from hunger daily, and 2.8 billion lack access to nutritious food. Traditional farming methods won’t solve this crisis. A transformation is desperately needed.

Even so, the recognition at COP30 that agriculture plays a role in both vulnerability and resilience is hopeful. It shows that climate goals can’t progress without addressing these interconnected issues and supporting the communities that nurture our planet.

The real challenge lies in how effectively financial resources can be mobilized and how governments can turn commitments into real-world actions. This is where good policy and technical support are crucial.

What happens next will reveal if Belém becomes a turning point for meaningful change or yet another unfulfilled promise in the climate movement. Future climate summits need to go beyond merely setting targets; they must implement actionable plans focused on food systems and nature.

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