Last year, at COP27, the decision was taken to establish the four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security (SSJW) which builds on previous activities under the UNFCCC addressing issues related to agriculture as well as future topics.
The SSJW recognises the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change. It highlights the role of farmers as key agents of change recognising that solutions are context-specific and must take into account national circumstances.
The SSJW agreed to:
- establish an online portal for sharing information on projects, initiatives and policies, and increasing opportunities for implementation of climate action.
- produce an annual synthesis report on activities related to the new four-year Sharm el-Sheikh joint work.
- hold in-session workshops on agreed topics related to agriculture and food security at the Bonn Climate Conference in June each year.
It was expected at the June 2023 Bonn Climate Conference that the roadmap on setting out the timeline, establishing the online portal and agreeing the workshop topics would be decided but unfortunately negotiators were unable to find common ground.
Jenny Brunton representing the UNFCCC Farmers Constituency
Parties fail to find common ground on agriculture at COP28
Unfortunately, after one week of intensive and lengthy negotiations, Parties were unable to move forward and agree the roadmap for the 4 year programme. Many Parties expressed frustration at the lack of progress, particularly on the absence of information to explain the basis for the proposal from the G77 negotiating bloc who are seeking to establish a coordination group. The mandate, purpose and participation of this proposed group is unclear and Parties repeatedly questioned the purpose of this when the mandate had clearly been set out at COP27. Parties did establish a working document but the extensive options for each paragraph and use of undecided bracketed text demonstrates the challenges faced in overcoming the differing positions.
After a challenging week, where Jenny repeatedly urged negotiators from both developed and developing countries to at a minimum agree one workshop, the negotiations closed and will have to reconvene at the Bonn Climate Conference in June 2024. The four year SSJW programme is now at best 2 and a half years. The failure to agree the roadmap is a failure to deliver for farmers.