Events

Opportunities to deliver for people, nature and climate at COP26

Couldn't attend live? Watch the full side event video here:

 


This CFS48 Side Event was organized in partnership between the FAO, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and CCAFS. It's part of a global campaign to accelerate agricultural innovation at the UN COP26 climate summit.


BACKGROUND

Currently, less than 10% of investment in agricultural systems is spent on agricultural innovation, while the sector remains a significant driver of natural ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

At the same time, the sector is the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,
environmental and health crises with small-scale farmers being in the frontline.

Transformation of agri-food systems is needed to help achieve the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Scaling up agricultural innovation stands as a key lever to support this transformation and offer solutions to the climate change emergency by developing and deploying agricultural practices and technologies at scale, as well as providing the knowledge and evidence that respond to the needs of farmers and countries.

During this side event, speakers will share their insights, experiences and practical examples on how to scale up innovative agricultural solutions towards COP26 and beyond.

OBJECTIVES

  • To identify opportunities and actions needed to scale up agricultural innovation in the lead up to UNFCCC COP26, including through the COP26 Nature Campaign, UN Food Systems Summit and COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity;
  • To share experiences and best practice approaches to transform agri-food systems to enhance their climate resilience and sustainability;
  • To understand how this scaling up can help CFS implement its policy recommendations on agroecological and other innovative approaches;
  • To raise ambition on investment in agricultural innovation based on evidence-based approaches and a continuous, inclusive dialogue among key institutions in the lead up to COP26.

Speakers

Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith
United Kingdom Minister for Pacific and the Environment at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

Maria Helena Semedo
Deputy Director-General, FAO

Thanawat Tiensin
Chairperson of the UN Committee on World Food Security. Permanent Representative of Thailand to the UN Agencies in Rome

Terri Sarch
Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the UN Agencies in Rome

Dhanush Dinesh
Head of Partnerships and Outreach, CCAFS

Dick Nuwamanya Kamuganga
President, Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE)

Moderator

Zitouni Ould-Dada
Deputy-Director, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO