FAO statement at the joint briefing to Members in Brussels, Geneva and New York on FAO support to COP27 and COP15 outcomes

Joint briefing to Members in Brussels, Geneva and New York on FAO support to COP27 and COP15 outcomes

As prepared for delivery

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear colleagues, 

It’s a pleasure to join all of you today at this event, which is jointly organized by the FAO Liaison Offices with the United Nations in New York and in Geneva, and the FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium, together with the FAO Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment.

Let me start off by saying that as liaison offices based in important global hubs, we aim to build and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, and engage in timely discussions with our partners in New York, Geneva and Brussels. 

In doing so, we work as a window into FAO expertise and the latest sector insights. We also serve as a bridge, so FAO’s technical knowhow is shared with Members, partners and stakeholders, and so this knowledge informs decision-making processes and supports relevant deliberations.

In this spirit, I am delighted to welcome you on behalf of the three Liaison Offices to this briefing on the outcomes of COP27 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and COP15 to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and how transforming agriculture and food systems are at the core of these discussions. 

We look forward to hearing reflections today from the UNFCCC Presidency of COP27, Egypt, and of the upcoming Presidency of COP28, the United Arab Emirates. We will also hear from the Presidency of CBD COP15, China, and from other Member States, as well as welcome youth reflections on what needs to be done to scale up climate action and mainstreaming biodiversity in agrifood sectors.

We also have FAO colleagues joining us that will walk us through the key role that the food and agriculture sectors have played, and will continue to play, in framing and implementing the global climate and biodiversity agendas, and how FAO can support this process.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As you may be aware, under FAO’s new strategic framework, we have outlined our mission to achieve the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life.

Of these four betters, ‘Better Environment’ is a cornerstone. 

We know that we cannot achieve our mission without a healthy environment. Yet we still have a lot of work to do to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to reverse biodiversity loss. 

We strongly believe that agrifood systems can be, and must be, at the center of positive transformations which ensure a healthy environment and healthy food for all. 

2023 is a pivotal year in reflecting on progress towards achieving the SDGs: with the UN Water Conference, the Food System Summit Stocktaking, the SDG Summit, and the Climate Ambition Summit all taking place. We look forward, as liaison offices, to continue to work together to provide briefings and share information in 2023 around all areas of FAO’s work, including the important area of climate change, biodiversity and the environment.  We look forward to your continued involvement in these discussions.

Today, we are looking forward to hearing your ideas and insights in a discussion on how FAO, together with the UN family and their multiple partners, can support the ambitious commitments which have been made going forward.

I wish you fruitful and engaging discussions today.