Food Systems and Agri-Food Security on the Climate Agenda: From Paris to Belém

Food Systems and Agri-Food Security on the Climate Agenda: From Paris to Belém

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Blog do IFZ | 22/01/2025 (updated on 11/11/2025)

The Interdependence between Food Systems and Climate

Food systems play a crucial role in discussions on climate change and food security. Responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, they not only contribute to global warming but are also deeply affected by its impacts. Intensive agricultural practices, land-use changes and food waste all amplify carbon emissions.

Conversely, sustainable food systems have the potential to offer solutions for both climate mitigation and adaptation, strengthening the resilience of rural and urban communities alike. As the climate crisis advances, the inclusion of food security and the fight against hunger within the climate agenda becomes essential. Droughts, floods and extreme weather events undermine food production, hitting the most vulnerable populations hardest. Integrating food systems into the climate agenda is therefore crucial to developing a comprehensive response to the crisis — one that encompasses sustainable production practices and guarantees access to food for all.

COP21 | Paris, 2015: A Change of Narrative in Paris

At COP21 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), held in Paris (France) in 2015, there was a major shift in how agriculture was viewed within the climate context. Under the leadership of José Graziano da Silva, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) positioned agriculture as a potential ally in climate mitigation. This new perspective strengthened the importance of sustainable food systems and contributed to advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement.

During the Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA) event, six key initiatives were highlighted to support agriculture and address climate challenges:

These initiatives reflected a coordinated effort to integrate agriculture into climate solutions — promoting resilient, low-carbon practices as a pathway towards a sustainable future.

COP22 | Marrakesh, 2016: A Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture

At COP22, held in Marrakesh (Morocco), the focus broadened to include the management of essential resources such as water, whose scarcity is being worsened by climate change. During the event, the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) was launched, aiming to catalyse international cooperation on water scarcity. This framework proved crucial in promoting agricultural practices that make more efficient and sustainable use of water, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.

The conference also witnessed the launch of the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture to Climate Change (AAA Initiative), created to contribute to food security in Africa, improve the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers, and promote employment in rural areas. The initiative encourages climate-adaptation practices, strengthens capacities, and directs financial flows towards the most at-risk farmers. It responds directly to the call of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, helping African countries implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

COP23 | Bonn, 2017: The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA)

At COP23, held in Bonn (Germany), the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) was formally established — a landmark commitment recognising agriculture as a key area for both climate mitigation and adaptation. This initiative represented a significant advance, identifying six priority areas: soil health, nutrient management, water management, livestock management, adaptation methods, and the socio-economic and food-security dimensions of climate change.

The KJWA fostered an ongoing dialogue among nations to identify and implement sustainable agricultural practices capable of reducing emissions and enhancing resilience. It also encouraged countries to develop integrated approaches linking food systems to climate goals, promoting sustainable resource use and the inclusion of farming communities in climate planning.

Leaders and experts at this COP highlighted that accelerating and scaling up investments in climate action within agriculture — and in sustainable livelihoods for smallholders — could unlock substantial potential to cut emissions and protect people from climate shocks.

Within the livestock sector, the FAO estimated that emissions could be reduced by about 30 percent through the adoption of improved practices. During the event, the Organisation launched a new manual on Climate-Smart Agriculture, recommending the expansion of both public and private climate-finance flows to agriculture, the promotion of public-private partnerships, stronger multi-stakeholder dialogue, increased investment in knowledge and data, and capacity-building to overcome barriers to the implementation of climate actions.

COP24 | Katowice, 2018: Progress on Climate-Adaptation Plans

At COP24, held in Katowice (Poland), the importance of developing national adaptation plans that include agriculture as a key sector was reaffirmed. The conference underscored the need for technical and financial support to help countries design strategies that integrate food security and climate adaptation. Several events promoted the sharing of knowledge on ecosystem-based adaptation and on using technology to optimise sustainable production. This COP was fundamental in consolidating the understanding that climate adaptation and food security must go hand in hand — particularly in countries most vulnerable to climate impacts.

At the same time, COP24 marked the completion of the Paris Agreement Rulebook, which set out the guidelines for implementing global climate actions. In that context, agriculture was a key area of discussion, being both a major source of GHG emissions and a sector highly exposed to climate risks.

Discussions also focused on advancing the KJWA (approved at COP23), addressing agricultural practices that could lower emissions, improve food security and strengthen farmers’ resilience. The FAO emphasised that practical solutions — such as sustainable soil management and efficient water use — were essential to ensure food security in the face of the climate crisis.

However, the absence of robust financing decisions was a critical issue, as most vulnerable agricultural countries still lack the resources needed to adopt effective adaptation and mitigation measures.

COP25 | Madrid, 2019: Small Steps towards Climate Resilience and Mitigation

Held in Madrid (Spain), COP25 emphasised the importance of strengthening climate resilience and mitigating CO₂ emissions through agriculture and related sectors. Although the conference was criticised for failing to reach major goals — such as regulating a global carbon market — it nonetheless recorded some progress in agroecological practices, including the use of cover crops, natural fertilisation, and improved manure management to reduce emissions.

One of the notable developments was the inclusion of the oceans in climate negotiations, with 39 countries pledging to incorporate them into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), thus expanding the scope of climate solutions beyond terrestrial systems.

Deforestation reduction and improved forest management were central themes. With up to 23 percent of global GHG emissions stemming from agriculture, forestry and other land-use practices (AFOLU), UN leaders stressed the urgent need to address deforestation as a climate priority.

The United Nations Forum on Forests underlined the importance of implementing the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2030, which seeks to increase global forest cover by 3 percent and eradicate extreme poverty among forest-dependent communities. This objective aligned with the Santiago Call for Action on Forests, issued by Chile (the COP25 Presidency), which emphasised the urgency of preserving terrestrial ecosystems to safeguard biodiversity and ensure resilient food systems.

COP26 | Glasgow, 2021: The Glasgow Declaration on Food and Climate

At COP26 in Glasgow (Scotland), agriculture and food systems were brought to the forefront of the climate debate. Although the issue was not formally part of the official agenda, major initiatives and commitments were announced.

A milestone was the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use — “Déjà Vu or Solid Restart?” — signed by 141 countries, including major carbon emitters and nations with high deforestation rates, such as Brazil and Indonesia. The declaration sought to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while committing funds to support sustainable development and the protection of critical ecosystems.

Another highlight was the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue, through which 28 countries — including the European Union — pledged to foster sustainable commodity trade. The dialogue set goals to improve supply-chain traceability and transparency, support smallholders, and invest in innovation to curb deforestation.

The Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), led by the United States and the United Arab Emirates, mobilised USD 4 billion in funding to drive agricultural innovations that support resilient, low-carbon practices. This alliance underscored the need for new technologies and methods to reduce emissions within agriculture.

COP26 also saw a collective commitment to cut methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030, with a special focus on food systems and livestock management, encouraging the adoption of technologies that reduce this potent greenhouse gas.

In addition, the FAO and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) published a joint report, Renewable Energy for Agri-Food Systems: Towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, highlighting how sustainable bioenergy could benefit both agriculture and climate objectives. Together, these initiatives marked a major step towards integrating food systems into the climate agenda — a vital move to limit global warming and ensure global food security.

This COP also approved the Glasgow Declaration for Food and Climate, which represented a joint commitment by governments, cities and regions to place food systems at the heart of climate strategies. The declaration encouraged local authorities to adopt food production and consumption policies that contribute to emission reductions. COP26 thus became a turning point for decentralised climate action, demonstrating that local and regional solutions are key to transforming food systems and adapting them to local climate realities. The commitment of subnational governments reflected a growing awareness that food security is both a climate and a social issue.

COP27 | Sharm el-Sheikh, 2022: Transforming Agri-Food Systems as a Climate Solution

At COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), the transformation of agri-food systems to tackle the climate crisis took centre stage. For the first time, an official pavilion dedicated exclusively to food and agriculture was included in the event, underlining the central role of these sectors in the global climate agenda.

The “Agriculture Day” and the first-ever Food Systems Pavilion in COP history came at a critical moment — marked by record levels of hunger and growing climate pressure on agricultural production, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Africa. For the first time, the final decision text of a COP explicitly mentioned food, rivers, nature-based solutions and the right to a healthy environment, highlighting the interlinkages between food security and the climate crisis.

The mandate of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) — which had brought together technical and scientific knowledge on agriculture and climate change — expired during COP27. In its place, the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on the Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture and Food Security was created, focusing on implementation, coordination, technical assistance and access to finance, particularly for smallholders.

However, disagreements over adopting a broader food-systems approach and over language referring to consumption and mitigation limited the scope of the new mandate. Even so, the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Initiative was launched to expand climate finance for agriculture, promoting a transition to a food system compatible with the 1.5 °C target while advancing both food and economic security.

COP27 thus signalled a turning point: a global recognition that transforming food systems is not optional but essential for effective climate action.

COP28 | Dubai, 2023: Climate Finance for Agri-Food Systems

At COP28, held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), climate finance for transforming agri-food systems was treated as a priority. The event highlighted the urgent need for resources for both adaptation and mitigation, with a strong emphasis on including smallholders and rural communities. COP28 underscored the importance of channelling investments into practices that enhance resilience and sustainability across food systems, emphasising the pivotal role of climate finance in preserving ecosystems and promoting low-carbon agriculture.

In Dubai, global leaders reaffirmed the essential role of agriculture and food systems in climate response through the COP28 Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. This declaration acknowledged the adverse impacts of climate change on food-system resilience and stressed the need for urgent adaptation and transformation.

Among the commitments were: expanding adaptation and resilience activities; supporting food security and nutrition through social protection networks; and promoting practices that maximise environmental benefits, such as soil conservation and food-waste reduction.

The signatory countries pledged to integrate climate action into their agricultural and food policies and to promote both public and private financing to accelerate the transition. The declaration reaffirmed the commitment to the Paris Agreement and set a goal of incorporating food systems into national strategies, such as National Adaptation Plans and Nationally Determined Contributions, by COP30.

During the same conference, Brazil, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Norway launched the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation, aimed at reshaping climate policies and investments towards sustainable food systems that ensure affordable, nutritious and sustainable diets while addressing food security, resilience and biodiversity.

Dubai also marked the operational launch of the Loss and Damage Fund, designed to support vulnerable countries facing the most severe impacts of climate change — such as floods, droughts and rising sea levels — despite having contributed minimally to the crisis.

In addition, the FAO released the report Achieving SDG 2 without Breaching the 1.5 °C Threshold: A Global Roadmap, outlining a global strategy to eradicate hunger and all forms of malnutrition without surpassing the 1.5 °C target established under the Paris Agreement. The report emphasised that, through regenerative agricultural practices and efficient resource use, it is possible to mitigate emissions while preserving agricultural productivity — a vital step to ensure that efforts to end hunger do not jeopardise climate goals.

COP29 | Baku, 2024: Consolidating Food Security as a Climate Priority

COP29, held in Baku (Azerbaijan), yielded limited results on food systems, biodiversity and ecosystems, with these themes receiving little attention in the final texts. Despite those constraints, several positive initiatives emerged, offering opportunities for progress ahead of COP30 in Belém.

A key highlight was the growing focus on reducing non-CO₂ GHG emissions within food systems. The Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, signed by over 30 countries responsible for nearly 50 percent of global methane emissions from organic waste, reinforced the need to cut food loss and waste. This measure, in addition to reducing methane emissions, aligns with objectives related to food security, soil health and energy.

Moreover, at the U.S.–China–Azerbaijan summit on methane and other gases, new funding commitments, political agreements and advances in research were announced to curb methane and nitrous oxide emissions — including within the agricultural sector.

During COP29, the FAO highlighted the massive financial gap in agri-food systems, estimated at USD 1.1 trillion per year to align them with global climate goals. Although climate finance for the sector increased to USD 29 billion in 2022, resources remain insufficient to drive the necessary transformations.

A landmark development was the launch of the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative, a platform bringing together initiatives, partnerships and networks to exchange experiences, identify opportunities and challenges, facilitate finance and foster collaboration among farmers — with a focus on empowering rural communities and women.

COP29 also advanced the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund and the global carbon market, both critical for financing climate action. The FAO led discussions on financing, innovation and adaptation in food systems, reinforcing the need for integrated and ambitious policies.

Expectations for COP30 in Belém: Brazilian Leadership and Food Security

COP30, scheduled to take place in Belém (Brazil) in 2025, represents a unique opportunity for Brazil to demonstrate leadership in integrating food security and climate action. The location of the COP in the Amazon underscores the importance of aligning environmental conservation with sustainable development, highlighting the role of the bioeconomy as a model for inclusive growth.

COP30 is expected to become a defining moment to advance conservation policies that include the participation of local communities and Indigenous peoples in protecting the Amazon rainforest, while fostering the development of sustainable food systems.

As the world converges on Belém, attention will turn to ensuring that commitments made since Paris are transformed into measurable outcomes — especially those linking the fight against hunger and poverty to climate resilience. The Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty and People-Centred Climate Action, already endorsed by numerous countries, points in that direction: towards a new paradigm that places human well-being and ecological balance at the centre of global climate efforts.

Conference Priorities

More than 190 countries, along with the European Union, have formally registered for COP30, which is expected to bring together around 50,000 participants — including government officials, scientists, civil society organisations and businesses.

Expectations are centred on three key objectives:

  • Strengthening climate finance, ensuring predictable resources for vulnerable nations;
  • Accelerating the energy transition, with concrete deadlines and practical instruments;
  • Enhancing adaptation efforts to protect communities already affected by extreme weather events.

Brazil is working to ensure that the spirit of Belém is one of cooperation and trust, avoiding the polarisation that marked some previous summits. The watchword is convergence — bringing together governments, peoples and productive sectors around common goals. In the words of Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, “The success of COP30 will depend less on rhetoric and more on the ability to create shared solutions.”

The Brazilian government is committed to results-oriented diplomacy and leadership by example.

Five Decisive Axes for the Climate Future

1. Just Transition and Inclusive Development

The concept of a just transition has become one of the cornerstones of the global climate debate — and Brazil has been among its strongest proponents. The government maintains that reducing emissions must go hand in hand with policies to generate employment, retrain workers, and promote the bioeconomy. In the Amazon, this means transforming the forest into an engine of sustainable development — adding value to biodiversity while ensuring the inclusion of local communities. Should COP30 succeed in establishing practical guidelines for financing and technological cooperation, the event may be remembered as the dawn of a new global green economy.

2. A Timetable for Phasing Out Fossil Fuels

Following COP28’s landmark recognition of the need for a transition away from fossil fuels, expectations in Belém are high for the adoption of a balanced and achievable timetable. Brazil — whose energy mix is already one of the cleanest in the world, with over 80% derived from renewable sources — proposes a pragmatic approach: each country should reduce emissions according to its own capacities and circumstances, avoiding economic inequities. Progress must be guided by responsibility and solidarity, while respecting diverse paths of development.

3. Strengthening Emission Reduction Targets (NDCs)

Almost a decade has passed since the Paris Agreement, and the revision of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will be a test of the credibility of the multilateral system. Brazil has set ambitious goals — a 53% cut in emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 — and has worked to encourage other nations to raise their ambitions as well. COP30 should serve as a platform for monitoring progress, promoting transparency, and establishing mechanisms for the effective verification of results.

4. Climate Adaptation and the Protection of Vulnerable Populations

The impacts of the climate crisis are already being felt. For this reason, Brazil argues that adaptation must receive the same level of priority as mitigation. The country advocates the adoption of global metrics for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), as well as the creation of dedicated funds to support resilient infrastructure, family farming, and disaster prevention. This is both an environmental and a social justice issue — it is about protecting those who contribute least to emissions but suffer the most from their consequences.

5. The Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF)

An initiative proposed by President Lula, the Tropical Forests Forever Fund aims to reward countries that preserve their forests, recognising the economic value of conservation. With initial pledges of US$5.5 billion and a target of US$25 billion, the fund could benefit around 70 tropical nations. The proposal reflects Brazil’s belief that nature must be seen as part of the economic solution — not as an obstacle to growth. If the fund is consolidated at COP30, it could become a historic instrument of international cooperation.

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