COP28 Agriculture, Food and Climate National Action Toolkit

FAO (2023) COP28 Agriculture, Food and Climate National Action Tool kit. Taking stock of good practices, initiatives, and tools for food system transformation through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans # 42 pages

The COP28 Food Systems and Agriculture Agenda calls for accelerated food systems, agriculture and climate action and urges governments to align and integrate those actions within national strategies, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) amongst others. It is built upon four pillars, covering national leadership, non-state actors, scaling up innovation, and finance as critical enablers to climate-resilient food system transformation.

This task force, including WWF, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, Climate Focus, NDC Partnership, FAO, Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, synthesised all guidance material available and lessons learned on NDC and NAP implementation for food system transformation. 

The “COP 28 Agriculture, Food and Climate Action Toolkit” developed serves as a key resource for national policymakers and decision-makers aiming to accelerate and align national efforts on climate action and food and agriculture system transformation by 

1. providing a summary of priority actions, 
2. giving an overview of good examples of NDCs and NAPs in how they integrate agriculture and food system measures, and 
3. providing overview of existing initiatives, platforms, and tools that can help governments in developing and implementing agriculture and food system policy measures as part of their NDCs and NAPs.

Priority actions identified in the Toolkit include shifting to nature-positive food production, reducing and repurposing food loss and waste, and transitioning to nutritious and healthy diets. Only a combination of these actions will bring food-based greenhouse gas emissions within a 1.5 degrees Celsius carbon budget, and ensure that food producers can adapt to changes in what, where and how they can grow and harvest food.

Although most countries have introduced at least one food-based measure in their NDCs and NAPs, many continue to face significant challenges in holistically integrating and implementing food system measures. Most countries focus on food production, with a limited number including actions on food loss and waste, and only a handful considering consumption and diets. By identifying good examples from different parts of the world, the toolkit will support policymakers in introducing additional measures that will deliver the most impact in their own context.

By equipping policymakers and other key stakeholders with a useful set of knowledge assets, the Toolkit specifically aims to support countries in aligning food, climate and nature goals. It can help strengthen the integration and alignment of NDCs and NAPs with National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans, under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and national food systems transformation pathways, developed as part of the UN Food Systems Summit. Greater alignment can enable more effective implementation of resources and accelerate efforts to deliver the Paris Agreement, Global Biodiversity Framework and Sustainable Development Goals.

See also: WWF Pavilion at COP28