COP29: Agri negotiations conclude with slow, but steady progress

15 November 2024

COP29: Agri negotiations conclude with slow, but steady progress

Senior European Policy Advisor Jenny Brunton has been representing UK farmers and the UNFCCC  Farmers Constituency at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan where she has once again negotiated on behalf of the Constituency in the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security (SJWA), the only negotiations dedicated solely to agriculture.

After a number of negotiations in week 1 of COP29, the draft conclusions about the online portal for the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on the implementation on climate action for agriculture and food security were agreed. 

Parties have requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to further develop the online portal and develop a template for submissions, which Parties and observers can use to upload case studies, projects, or calls for collaboration and finance. The aim of the online portal is to facilitate information exchange, co-ordination on projects, and financial support for projects. It is a long-term initiative and aims to centralise key information to aid knowledge exchange to support climate resilient agriculture, and should be fully operational by COP31.

In the closing statement for the UNFCCC Farmers Constituency, Jenny Brunton called for Parties to not lose focus on the real needs of farmers who are on the frontline of climate change impacts. She highlighted that we are now two years into a four year work programme, and we need to shift attention to means of implementation of climate actions which will bring meaningful benefits to farmers.

In 2022, at COP27, the decision was taken to establish the four-year SJWA which builds on previous activities under the UNFCCC addressing issues related to agriculture as well as future topics. The SJWA 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.

After a disappointment lack of progress over the last 2 years, agreement was reached at SB60 (June 2024) which will see:

  • Online Portal: The online portal will be presented by the UNFCCC Secretariat at COP29
  • Annual Synthesis Report: The first report will cover previous work from 2013 onwards and will be produced for June 2025, with the following annual reports produced for the first session every year (at Bonn). We expect some discussion at COP29 on the content of the first report.
  • Workshops: The first of the two agreed workshop will not take place until June 2025 but we must ensure that the constituency is an active participant in these discussions.
  • Workshop 1 (June 2025): Systemic and holistic approaches to implementation of climate action on agriculture, food systems and food security, understanding, cooperation and integration into plans
  • Workshop 2: 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

Much of the work is now to take place from June 2025, 2.5 years into a 4 year programme. Now that we have managed to move past the procedural issues, more challenging discussions shall begin on the content and reports of workshops and the annual reports.

We must ensure that farmers are heard within this process and that we are recognised within the conclusions.

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