Has Food Really Been Missing at COP until now?

The idea that food has been under-represented in the UNFCCC processes has been a popular refrain in the development community. But is it really true? After all, Koronivia and the Sharm Joint Work - both relating to food security and agriculture - are the only sector-specific negotiations under the Convention. So, I looked back at all the COP outcomes texts since Kyoto to see what's really going on.

Given that the UNFCCC has always focused primarily on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change, I think it's quite noteworthy that food, food security, food systems, nutrition, health, and agriculture have been quite so present throughout. Clearly there has always been a recognition of the role of food systems and agriculture as both cause and victim of climate change.

And, of course, these topics have received far more attention over the last couple of COPs.

COP3: Kyoto Protocol

• Recognises the importance of soils, land, and forests as a carbon sink
• All Parties shall formulate, implement, publish and regularly update national and regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change and measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change. Such programme would concern…agriculture, forestry and waste management.
• Acknowledges sources of emissions from agriculture: enteric fermentation, manure management, rice cultivation, soils, burning of savannas and agricultural residues

COP4: Buenos Aires Plan of Action

• Assigned action on AFOLU to SBSTA, but no further action

COP5: Bonn

• The first mention of food security as a potential area of risk under climate change

COP6: The Hague

• Calls out impacts of climate change on productivity in the agricultural sector and on health
• Sections on land management (crops, livestock) and forests

COP7: Marrakech

• Recognises food and human health as central issues
• Decides on funding for agriculture
• Looks at various issues around AFOLU in detail in annex

?COP8: New Delhi

• National sustainable development strategies should integrate more fully climate change objectives in key areas such as water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity
• Similarly, technology transfer should strengthen in all these areas

COP9: Milan

• Less on food and agriculture but still a strong component on LULUCF

COP10 & COP11 (Montreal): not a lot to see here…

COP12: Nairobi

• Specifically calls out climate-friend agricultural technologies and practices, including traditional methods

COP13: Bali

• Primary focus on adjacent and connected issue of forests

COP15: Copenhagen

• The Copenhagen Accord recognized the need to enhance the understanding of the impacts of climate change on agriculture, particularly in vulnerable regions.

COP17: Durban

• Strong guidance on LULUCF

COP18: Doha

• Agriculture remains key theme in emissions inventories

COP19: Warsaw & COP20: Lima

• Mostly just about food security not being threatened and agriculture being a relevant area of work

?COP21: Paris

As we know, this marked a significant milestone in international efforts to combat climate change. It aimed to limit global temperature increases to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement highlighted the importance of adaptation and resilience in agriculture (referred to as food production systems), as well as the need to enhance food security. Ending hunger also appeared for the first time.

The Paris Agreement also introduced the Global Stocktake process and the notion of NAPs, which have gone on to include elements on agriculture (especially adaptation) and food security.

COP23: Bonn

The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture was established in 2017, recognizing the crucial role of agriculture in addressing climate change. The work focuses on topics such as adaptation, improving soil health, and fostering sustainable and resilient agricultural practices. To be honest, it's pretty wide-ranging! And the no-regrets actions identified over the four-year work programme weren't so bad.

?COP26: Glasgow

More discussions on agriculture, food security, and climate change. Various initiatives and commitments were made to address the impacts of climate change on agriculture and support sustainable practices, including breakthroughs on methane and forests. Agriculture was well represented: agroforestry, irrigation, crop diversification, new crop varieties, land and soil management, livestock management, fisheries, and agriculture all appear.

COP27: Sharm el Sheik

A marked acceleration, as food has an official day and a larger footprint. The SSJW is introduced to carry the Koronivia mantle, and looks at food systems, food security, resilience and adaptation issues, and a whole range of related areas for Member States to address. The focus remains adaptation but mitigation is not neglected entirely.

COP28: Dubai

I won't repeat my recent debriefs! Suffice to say that this was a definite highlight, but by no means the only oasis in an otherwise desolate food-free desert.

Other

The UNFCCC process has also emphasized the need for financial support to enable developing countries to implement climate-resilient agricultural practices and enhance food security.

And the SBSTA has the Technical Examination Process on Agriculture to share strategies for adaptation and mitigation in agriculture, as well as other workstreams for guidance, methodologies, reports, and assessments.

Finally, there is a Farmer Constituency - one of only a handful of recognised Constituency groups - to ensure that farmer voices are heard.