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SSH joint work

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

The  27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) marked a critical step for the implementation of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture process with the adoption of decision 3/CP.27 on the “Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security”.

The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) is a landmark decision that recognized the unique potential of agriculture in tackling climate change. The KJWA was established at COP23 in Fiji in 2017 as a new process to advance discussions on agriculture in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The new four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work builds on the outcomes of the KJWA, previous activities under the UNFCCC addressing issues related to agriculture (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), as well as future topics. It brings issues related to agriculture and food security under the UNFCCC to the level of implementation.

The Sharm el-Sheikh joint work recognizes the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change. It highlights the role of farmers, including smallholders and pastoralists, as key agents of change recognizing that solutions are context-specific and take into account national circumstances.

The joint work also proposes to establish an online portal for sharing information on projects, initiatives and policies, and increasing opportunities for implementation of climate action to address issues related to agriculture and food security.

FAO is committed to supporting the development and implementation of the new four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work and online portal, building on previous achievements from the Koronivia process and providing countries with technical support, expert knowledge and capacity strengthening to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

(a) Promoting a holistic approach taking into consideration regional, national and local circumstances to deliver multiple benefits;
(b) enhancing coherence, synergies, coordination, communication and interaction;
(c) promoting synergies and strengthening engagement, collaboration and partnerships;
(d) providing support and technical advice on climate action;
(e) 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;
(f) evaluating progress in implementing and cooperating on climate action;
(g) sharing information and knowledge on developing and implementing national policies, plans and strategies related to climate change.

The effective implementation of the objectives agreed in Sharm el-Sheikh depends on cooperation between all stakeholders including Parties, UN organizations and other relevant institutions, agencies and entities, the research community, the private sector, civil society and farmers' organizations, among others. 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.

In line with decision 3/CP.27, paragraph 14, the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security was established at the UNFCCC SB58 sessions. The SBSTA and the SBI agreed to continue consideration of this matter at SB 59/COP28 (November–December 2023). See draft conclusions proposed by the chairs at SB58: https://unfccc.int/documents/629501

In this context, FAO will be facilitating the first Informal Expert Dialogue on the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work (SSH-JW) at its headquarters in Rome from 31 October to 02 November. The dialogue comes at a strategic time as agriculture experts lay the groundwork for the next steps at COP28. FAO remains committed to strengthening and facilitating country-to-country exchanges and to supporting Parties in their efforts to reach consensus on the way forward and to achieve a substantive agreement and outcome at COP28.

Read FAO submission on Sharm el-Sheikh joint work

Timeline

The UNFCCC secretariat has been requested to:

  • prepare an annual synthesis report 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 new four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work;
  • 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.

The Subsidiary Bodies (SBs) will report back on the progress and outcomes of the joint work to the Conference of the Parties at its thirty-first session (COP 31) in 2026.

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