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); 
  
  
• 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): 
  
  
• 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 (COP 31) in 2026 (para. 20)

Read FAO submission on the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work

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 in 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. 

• 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). 

• 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. 
• 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” 

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

Read FAO submission on the first in-session workshop under the SJWA 

• 2025 

  • Preparation by the UNFCCC secretariat of the workshop report on topic 1 and consideration of the report by Parties at SB63. 

  • Further development of the structure, functionalities and accessibility of the online portal taking into account the key points from Parties’ presentations and discussions on this matter at SB 61 (captured in annexes I–II to documents FCCC/SBSTA/2024/10 and FCCC/SBI/2024/25). 

  • Parties, United Nations organizations and other relevant institutions, agencies and entities, the research community, the private sector, civil society and farmers organizations, as well as representatives of COP Presidencies’ initiatives and the High-Level Champions, among others and as appropriate, are invited to submit information on activities related to the joint work via the Sharm el-Sheikh online portal by 31 December 2025 

• 2026 

  • Parties and observers are invited to submit their views via the submission portal on the workshop topic 2, including options for its format and suggested speakers, by 1 March 2026.  

  • Preparation by the secretariat of the second annual synthesis report for consideration by Parties at SB 64 (June 2026).

  • Second in-session workshop to be held at SB64 in hybrid and interactive format on topic 2 in relation to the joint work: “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”,

  • Preparation by the secretariat of the workshop report on topic 2 and consideration of the report at SB65 

  • Finalization of discussions on the progress and outcomes of the joint work for reporting to the Conference of the Parties at its thirty-first session (COP31) in November 2026.