The issue of food received special attention at COP28, and it is once again a focal point at COP29. According to the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) for 2024, around 282 million people suffered from high levels of acute hunger in 2023.
The food insecurity crisis is exacerbated by climate change, which brings the food agenda to the table of climate negotiations. It has garnered attention from many climate-related conferences due to its importance and central role in ensuring human security.
Climate Change and Food Insecurity
The impact of climate change on human food is manifested in several ways, the most notable of which are:
Agricultural Productivity
The agricultural sector, in general, suffers from the impacts of climate change due to extreme and changing weather patterns. These include changes in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures, which lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This can result in early plant growth, or, conversely, high heat and drought may cause a decline in agricultural productivity. Livestock is also affected by heat stress, leading to losses in animal wealth.
Soil Degradation and Water Scarcity
High temperatures influence rainfall patterns, leading to soil degradation. This reduces the land's ability to provide plants with the essential nutrients they need. Additionally, the heat increases evaporation rates, which negatively impacts irrigation practices. All of this ultimately affects agricultural productivity.
Supply Chain Disruptions
Extreme weather events associated with climate change and rising temperatures weaken infrastructure and cause transportation problems, negatively impacting supply chains. This can result in food shortages in certain regions, and food may spoil before reaching consumers.
Climate Negotiations
During the COP28 climate negotiations, held at Expo Dubai in 2023, the "UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action" emphasized the need to support agriculture and food systems in adapting to climate change and providing financial support to farmers and food sector workers. It also stressed the importance of supporting women and youth working in this field. The declaration highlighted the need to accelerate the integration of agriculture and food security into climate action agendas and to review collective progress on the goals set in the declaration at COP29. Approximately 160 countries signed the declaration.
At COP29
During this year’s COP29, the progress made between COP28 and COP29, based on the "UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action," will be reviewed. There will also be space to strengthen international efforts to support global food security, as it is a crucial pillar for human life on Earth.
Additionally, COP29 has allocated November 19 as a special day for food, agriculture, and water. On this day, the "Harmonia Climate Initiative for Farmers," a joint project between the COP29 Presidency and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will be launched. This initiative will support workers in the agriculture sector, which is one of the main pillars of food security.
Furthermore, the parties are working to strengthen the collective financial goal, which is expected to replace the $100 billion climate financing target during COP29. This is why the conference is also referred to as the "Financial COP." Naturally, the food sector also requires financial support, and negotiators will be working towards securing this during COP29.
