At the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, FAO’s message was clear increased investment in agrifood systems is essential to address the climate crisis.

“The Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals are beyond reach without agrifood systems transformation”, said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, the head of the FAO delegation to COP29.

COP29 dubbed the "climate finance COP" saw nations grappling with the establishment of a new global climate finance target (NCQG) to replace the expiring $100 billion goal. The final outcome acknowledged the need for vastly increased investments even if it did not lock in the full investments that will likely be needed. Aligned with this, FAO’s presence and inputs at COP29 focused not just on the quantity of finance, but also on where that finance needs to be directed to have the greatest climate impact.

QU Dongyu emphasized this message during the World Leaders Summit and at an event where panelists discussed the importance of Green Climate Fund (GCF) investments to support adaptation in vulnerable and fragile contexts. He pointed out the severe effects of climate change in vulnerable areas like Iraq and Somalia, where FAO leads GCF projects.

In support of the Director General’s messaging, FAO highlighted The triple gap in finance for agrifood systems, a new FAO report produced in collaboration with the ClimateShot Investor Coalition. The report revealed a significant funding gap in the sector, requiring $1.1 trillion annually to align with climate goals.

Food, Agriculture, and Water Day

On November 19, FAO led the “Food, Agriculture, and Water Day” to highlight these issues, and launched the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers. The initiative will serve as an aggregator, bringing together various initiatives, coalitions, networks, and partnerships to empower farmers, villages, and rural communities, fostering collaboration and maximizing impact. FAO, the COP29 Presidency and the Ministry of Agriculture signed an agreement to carry Harmoniya forward through the FAST Partnership.

More news and events here

Supporting national climate planning

COP29 also saw the successful progress of the dedicated official track under the four-year Sharm El Sheikh Joint Work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security (SJWA), a collaborative process FAO has been supporting since 2017.

FAO will also continue to support countries in the implementation of their climate actions agreed in the COPs. With the operationalization of the "loss and damage" fund and final agreement on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement dealing with climate markets, FAO’s assistance will be essential for countries to ensure increased investments in agriculture and food systems that can bring climate adaptation, mitigation and sequestration solutions alongside food security.

Food and Agriculture Pavilion

The Food and Agriculture Pavilion jointly hosted by FAO and CGIAR at COP29 in Baku, served as a dynamic hub for showcasing the critical role of agrifood systems in climate action.  Inaugurated by FAO Director-General, the pavilion acted as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative action, featuring events.

New reports

Agrifood systems in Nationally Determined Contributions: global analysis: This FAO report shows that while agrifood systems are prioritized in climate action plans, significant gaps in mitigation, adaptation, and financing persist and need urgent attention.

Climate technologies for agrifood systems transformation: The report stresses the importance of robust technology assessments and targeted support to enhance climate technology adoption across agrifood value chains.

United Nations Global Nitrous Oxide Assessment: This UNEP-FAO report reveals that rising nitrous oxide emissions, largely from agriculture, threaten climate goals and calls for urgent sustainable nitrogen management.

Bridging nature and climate through protection of primary forests with high ecological integrity: The brief highlights the critical role of primary forests in storing carbon and supporting biodiversity, while urging increased support for Indigenous stewardship and innovative financing.

Activity book- livestock and climate change: An educational activity book for children that explores the environmental impact of livestock and encourages informed, sustainable thinking about climate change.

While the marathon negotiations may not have delivered everything that was hoped for, FAO and partners maintained the strong momentum around the role that agriculture and food systems must play if we are to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and a just transition.

Next COP to take place in the Amazon

Looking ahead, COP30 in Brazil promises to be a critical milestone and deadline for nations to present their strengthened NDCs. FAO stands ready to collaborate fully with the incoming Brazilian presidency to ensure the success of this vital conference and drive ambitious climate action.