ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute (ISEAS)’s Post

Unlocking Climate Finance for Agriculture at COP29: A Call for Action As we gather insights from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, it’s clear that the agricultural sector is at a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change. With over 2.5 billion people relying on agriculture, the need for targeted climate finance has never been more urgent. Here are some key takeaways and strategies discussed at COP29 that can enhance climate finance for agriculture: Focus on Smallholder Farmers: Ministers of agriculture from Latin America and the Caribbean emphasized the need for developed countries to provide financing specifically aimed at smallholder farmers. This support is crucial to boost food security and adapt to increasingly severe climate impacts. Leveraging the Loss and Damage Fund: The operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund presents a unique opportunity to channel resources directly to those most affected by climate change. Targeting smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries can help them access improved seeds, training, and climate-resilient technologies. Data-Driven Approaches: Implementing robust data collection and analysis can guide the effective allocation of climate finance. By understanding local vulnerabilities and agricultural needs, stakeholders can ensure that funding reaches those who most need it. Integration into National Climate Strategies: It is essential to incorporate agriculture into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This integration ensures that farmers’ voices are heard and their unique challenges are addressed in climate policies. Collaboration Across Sectors: The importance of collaboration among various stakeholders—governments, NGOs, and private sectors—was highlighted as a means to enhance the effectiveness of financial flows in agriculture. As we move forward, it’s crucial that we prioritize agriculture in our climate strategies and recognize its role in achieving global climate goals. The discussions at COP29 have set the stage for a more inclusive approach to climate finance that empowers farmers and strengthens food systems. For more insights on this topic, check out these resources: https://lnkd.in/dyvAmwxH https://lnkd.in/dZXkQp2V https://lnkd.in/d85dbDPF Let’s champion these initiatives and ensure that agriculture is not sidelined but embraced as a vital part of our collective response to the climate crisis! #COP29 #ClimateFinance #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #ClimateAction #Abutispinach

#COP29 ended last week… any notable developments for the agricultural sector? [𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓃𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝓎 𝓅𝑒𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒶𝓉 𝐵𝒶𝓀𝓊, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓃-𝑒𝓍𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝑔𝓁𝑜𝒷𝒶𝓁 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒸𝓁𝓊𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓀𝑒𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽] 💨 Development N°1: Methane mitigation: Over 30 countries endorsed the COP29 Declaration on Reducing Methane from #Organic Waste, committing to sectoral targets in #climate pledges. The #EU welcomed the declaration but didn’t endorse it due to insufficient consultation time. 🧑🌾 Development N°2: Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers: The FAO and the leaders of this year’s COP confirmed the launch of an initiative “to acknowledge the fundamental role of #farmers as agents of #climateaction.” The initiative, which was confirmed earlier this year, intends to organise climate-focused food and #agriculture initiatives in one platform where farmers can access information and support. 🪱 Development N°3: Soil degradation increasingly spoken of: Soil conservation advocacy groups delivered a set of policy recommendations to the UNFCCC UN this week, urging for more climate financing to help #restore #degraded #soils. A new report from one of the groups, Save Soil APAC, found that if soil degradation continues unchecked, soils could begin releasing stored carbon. It’s so encouraging to see more attention paid to food and ag on major international stages like COP29! Yet, do you believe countries’ NDCs are doing enough for farmers to ensure a just #transition? #regenag #foodsecurity #agriculture

Please find the letter titled ‘In Solidarity for a Green World,’ written by UNFCCC COP 29 President Designate Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, as mentioned in this article by the International Institute for Sustainable Development here: https://lnkd.in/g2BHebHi It also outlines the COP29 Two Week Agenda and thematic days, including Food, Agriculture and Water Day on November 19, 2024. To access the letter, please view here: https://lnkd.in/g6uP5nkE The letter also highlights the role of the private sector such as via running programmes with SMEs to collaborate on best practices, building capacity and climate literacy, and creating partnerships with global companies and financiers, among others. For Coalition for Responsible Sourcing & Trade of Commodities - FOLU India CREST, the private sector is an integral stakeholder to take forward the agenda of responsible sourcing. #responsiblesourcing #privatesector #food #agriculture #COP29 Representative Photo by Mark Stebnicki

Back at #COP28 in December, a staggering 159 countries signed on to declaration vowing to integrate food systems into their national climate plans. The document — called the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action — says all the right things, and if implemented, could be incredibly powerful. But the reality is that signing the declaration was the easy part. Taking it from the chambers of COP to the ground level, with all the messy real-world challenges of policy change — that's where the real work lies. On top of that, the declaration is non-binding, meaning that if countries don't make good on their promises, well, so what? I appreciate the opportunity to write articles like this for Devex, because that's what journalism does, right? Remind powerful institutions that they're being held accountable, and that a commitment doesn't end when the ink on the signature dries. Also, big thank you to Purnima Menon, Edward Davey, and Frison Emile for their insights! #climatechange #climate #foodsecurity #agriculture #agrifood #foodsystems

Food system transformation is critical in addressing the twin challenges of food security and climate change. Decarbonizing the fertilizer industry, which accounts for around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, will be central to that transformation.   Read Hanh Nguyen’s article in the latest issue of World Fertilizer to find out more about:   🏭 How we’re pioneering ammonia production decarbonization with projects including our 1.1mpta low carbon ammonia facility in Texas. 🌾 Our work with industry associations including The Fertilizer Institute to promote correct stewardship of fertilizer use, improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing both nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching. ⚖️ The need for robust regulatory support and collaboration across the industry, and why the launch of the ‘COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action' was an important step in the right direction.   Read the full article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eazWqj9j

Ahead of #COP29, I shared my thoughts on what Africa, and by extension, the Global South, must prioritise in upcoming climate negotiations. Drawing from the "documented lived experience" (a phrase I must attribute to the genius of Dr Joseph Mante) in Nigeria's Sankera region of Benue State, I make a case for establishing a dedicated Agriculture and Food Security Fund within the climate finance framework. Our farmers have long employed agroecological practices that work in harmony with natural ecosystems. Indeed, as it is often said, solving the climate crisis is intrinsically linked to solving the biodiversity crisis - a healthy ecosystem does more for climate stability than any artificial carbon reduction measure. These traditional methods, refined over generations, offer invaluable insights for climate-resilient agriculture. However, without proper financial backing, this potential remains largely untapped. The proposed fund would serve multiple critical functions: scaling climate-smart farming techniques, improving market access for smallholder farmers, and strengthening local food systems. This isn't merely about agriculture – it's about building resilient communities and preserving traditional knowledge while adapting to climate challenges. As we approach COP29, dubbed the '#FinanceCOP,' we have a unique opportunity to reshape the narrative around climate finance. The time has come to recognise agriculture's central role in climate resilience and food security.

This piece is both timely and essential. Kamo Sende rightly advocates for dedicated climate finance for agroecology and smallholder farmers within the global climate framework. My work frequently assesses how global finance and governance frameworks impact afro-communities particularly in light of their current and historical challenges. Climate change is the most urgent collective threat of our time, today. If not properly managed, we risk enormous damage on a scale we cannot even begin to comprehend. However, effective solutions are anything but generic. They are not wholesale. Africa’s path to climate adaptation, mitigation, and even a just energy transition requires strategies deeply rooted in localized contexts—strategies that reflect the unique socio-economic and environmental landscape of the continent. For us Africans, climate resilience is inextricably linked to food security. Declining quality of life across the continent, no doubt exacerbated by market-driven approaches pushed by international financial institutions, emphasize the urgency of a different approach. If we have any chance to preserve human dignity while addressing the escalating impacts of climate change, negotiators in climate finance must prioritize smallholder farmers in Africa as central actors in climate solutions. These farmers are climate stewards who can drive agroecological methods that are sustainable, equitable, and tailored to the continent’s needs. Thank you, Kamo, for amplifying this critical perspective. May our calls for a responsive, inclusive climate finance framework resonate where it matters most.

Last week, COP29 Azerbaijan concluded amidst disagreement between low- and high-income countries on climate finance goals. Despite the urgency of the climate crisis, the lack of consensus and actionable commitments served as a stark reminder of the challenges we face in addressing climate change.   Despite this, there were a few bright spots. The second-annual Food, Water, and Agriculture Day highlighted several new initiatives aimed at transforming agrifood systems to address sustainability, resilience, and food security. Among these, the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers was announced as a platform to unify disparate programs and partnerships, fostering improved collaboration between food systems stakeholders.   As an advocate for collaboration and evidence-based knowledge sharing, we’re eager to see how this initiative can better promote the exchange of best practices to improve the lives of farmers.   #COP29 #ClimateAction #Collaboration   Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dgNzbn6M

💬 While in Baku recently for #COP29, Patrick Holden, SFT CEO, sat down with Finn Ross, Co-Chair of Future Farmers NZ, for a Fireside Chat. Patrick and Finn compared their experiences of the multiple organic standards certifications and audits for farming in Wales and New Zealand, and the need for a single harmonised framework, like the Global Farm Metric.  “I believe that, we – the farmers and land managers – are in the best position to help governments towards global harmonisation.” – Patrick Holden They also discussed how investing in sustainable agriculture could save costs elsewhere, including in public health, the carbon credits market and what a successful COP what look like to both of them.  Watch the full video of their panel here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5jxePbs  #Cop29Azerbaijan #OrganicFarming #RegenerativeAgriculture #GlobalFarmMetric | Extreme Hangout COP29 Azerbaijan FAO

#COP29 is less than a week away, and with finance set to be the key theme in Baku, this is an important opportunity to highlight the critical need for increased and accelerated climate finance for food systems. 📣Join us for a webinar this Thursday (7 November), where we’ll be discussing Regen10’s #TransitionPathways analysis which looks at the costs and benefits of adopting regenerative approaches and the financial support needed to make the transition possible. You’ll also hear from a panel of experts who are using financial models to support the transition to regenerative. This includes TransCap Initiative’s Andre Ticoulat, Rex Raimond from Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS), Ramanjaneyulu GV of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA India), and Peter Andreas Nielsen, Common Fund for Commodities. 📅Thursday 7 November  ⌚09:00 EST/ 14:00 GMT/ 17:00 EAT/ 22:00 SGT  📍 Zoom (register via the link in the comments) #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateFinance #FoodSystems #COP29Azerbaijan