Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security

As mentioned in paragraph 14 of decision 3/CP.27, the Conference of the Parties agreed on seven objectives to address issues related to agriculture and food security in the context of the SJWA, which can be summarised as follows: 

1. Promoting a holistic approach taking into consideration regional, national and local circumstances to deliver multiple benefits; 
2. Enhancing coherence, synergies, coordination, communication and interaction between Parties, constituted bodies and workstreams, the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, the Adaptation Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund in order to facilitate the implementation of action to address issues related to agriculture and food security  
3. Promoting synergies and strengthening engagement, collaboration and partnerships among national, regional and international organizations and other relevant stakeholders; 
4. Providing support and technical advice to Parties, constituted bodies and the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism on climate action; 
5. Enhancing research and development on issues related to agriculture and food security and consolidating and sharing related scientific, technological and other information, knowledge (including local and indigenous knowledge), experience, innovations and best practices; 
6. Evaluating progress in implementing and cooperating on climate action; and 
7. Sharing information and knowledge on developing and implementing national policies, plans and strategies related to climate change. 
   

Pursuant to decision 3/CP.27, the UNFCCC Secretariat has: 

• been requested to prepare an annual synthesis report each year on the work undertaken by constituted bodies and financial and other entities under the Convention, as well as by relevant international organizations, on activities related to the four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work (para. 15a); 
  
  
• been requested to hold in-session workshops  in hybrid format, facilitating both virtual and in-person participation, on agreed topics related to agriculture and food security at the first regular sessions of the subsidiary bodies each year (para. 15b);
  
  
• been requested to establish the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal under the joint work for sharing information on projects, initiatives and policies for increasing opportunities for implementation of climate action to address issues related to agriculture and food security (para. 16); and 
  
  
• requested the Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) to report on the progress and outcomes of the joint work to the Conference of the Parties at its thirty-first session (COP31) in 2026 (para. 20)

Read FAO submission on the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work

• Time to coordinate in relation to the joint work during the in-session workshops, agreeing to include this when reporting back on the progress and outcomes of the joint work to the COP31 (para. 2). 

• The submission of information by relevant international organizations on activities related to the joint work via the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal by 31 December each year (para. 4). Read FAO's first submission to the UNFCCC on projects, initiatives and policies (31 December 2024).

• The preparation of the annual synthesis report by the UNFCCC Secretariat, taking into account the information of submissions to the online portal (para. 4) and the progress under and the outcomes of current climate initiatives (para. 3), for consideration at the first regular sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies each year, starting in 2025. 

• Holding two agreed in-session workshops in hybrid format, facilitating both virtual and in-person participation at the 62nd and 64th sessions of the UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Bodies, focusing on: 

• The preparation by the UNFCCC Secretariat of a report on each of the in-session workshops for consideration by the Subsidiary Bodies at their sessions following the respective workshop.

• Submission of views by Parties and observers on the subject of each workshop, options for its format and suggested speakers by 1 March 2025 (workshop 1) and by 1 March 2026 (workshop 2). 

• The development of the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal by the UNFCCC Secretariat, to be presented at the 61st session of the Subsidiary Bodies under the UNFCCC (SB61) for further development and consideration at the next meeting of the SBs in June 2025 (SB62). 

2024

• The Sharm el-Sheikh online portal was presented at SB61. A template for submissions was developed by the Secretariat on the basis of the structure outlined by Parties at SB61, and first submissions of information by Parties and international organizations have been included. 

Read FAO submission to the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal in 2024

2025

• The first annual synthesis report on activities related to the joint work was prepared by the UNFCCC Secretariat in May 2025. It includes work undertaken by constituted bodies and financial and other entities under the Convention, as well as by relevant international organizations, covering the period starting from 2013. 
• A first in-session workshop was held in hybrid format at SB62 on topic 1: “systemic and holistic approaches to implementation of climate action on agriculture, food systems (this does not preclude other approaches) and food security, understanding, cooperation and integration into plans”, and a workshop report was subsequently prepared for consideration by SB63 in Belém, Brazil.
• The SBI and SBSTA invited the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) to present the outcomes of the 2025 SCF Forum on “accelerating climate action and resilience through financing for sustainable food systems and agriculture”
• At SB62, Parties also recalled guidance provided at SB61 on the submission of information to the online portal, with a view to further developing its structure, functionalities and accessibility.
• At SB63 in Brazil, the SBSTA and the SBI reiterated the importance of cooperating on the implementation of climate action to address issues related to agriculture and food security in accordance with the SJWA, and agreed to continue consideration on this matter at SB64 in June 2026, taking into account the draft text prepared in Belém.
  

Read FAO submission on the first in-session workshop under the SJWA
See FAO presentation at the first in-session workshop
Read FAO submission to the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal in 2025
Read FAST Partnership submission to the Sharm el-Sheikh Online Portal

2026

• The second annual synthesis report under the SJWA was prepared by the UNFCCC Secretariat in March 2026, covering activities related to the joint work undertaken in 2025.
• The Secretariat further developed the structure, functionalities and accessibility of the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal, upgrading its interface and introducing new features, taking into account the key points from Parties’ presentations and discussions on this matter at SB61 (captured in annexes I–II to documents FCCC/SBSTA/2024/10 and FCCC/SBI/2024/25).
• A second in-session workshop was held from 08 to 10 June 2026 at SB64 in hybrid and interactive format on topic 2: “Progress, challenges and opportunities related to identifying needs and accessing means of implementation for climate action in agriculture and food security, including sharing of best practices”, including a World Café, and time to coordinate in relation to the joint work.
• At SB64, Parties considered the report on the first in-session workshop on “systemic and holistic approaches to implementation of climate action on agriculture, food systems and food security”, as well as the second annual synthesis report on activities related to the joint work undertaken by constituted bodies, financial entities and relevant international organizations in 2025. Parties also took note of the oral presentation delivered at SB63 by the Standing Committee on Finance on the outcomes of the 2025 SCF Forum.
  

Read FAO submission on the second in-session workshop under the SJWA
See FAO presentation at the second in-session workshop and the additional information provided following the discussions during the workshop

2026

• Preparation by the Secretariat of the workshop report on topic 2 and consideration of the report at SB65.
• Report back on the progress and outcomes of the joint work to the Conference of the Parties at its thirty-first session (COP31) in November 2026.

The SJWA reaffirmed the importance of:

• taking into account the vulnerability of farmers and other groups exposed to the effects of climate change, in particular smallholders, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, youth and children, as well as their knowledge, experience and leadership; and
• strengthening actions and support, in particular with regard to capacity building, access to finance and technology development and transfer.

The effective implementation of the objectives agreed as part of the SJWA decision depends on cooperation between all stakeholders including Parties, constituted bodies under the Convention, operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, UN organizations and other relevant institutions, agencies and entities, the research community, the private sector, civil society and farmers' organizations, among others.

The Conference of the Parties also invited current and future COP Presidencies, high-level champions and other actors to take into account the recommendations on the KJWA referred to in decision 3/CP.27, paragraph 2, and to promote information and knowledge exchange on best practices and means of implementation when promoting climate initiatives.

Strengthened collaboration and innovative partnerships will reinforce the links between science, policy and practice, and the potential to catalyse climate action to address issues related to agriculture and food security.