UNCCD Pavilion @ COP28

1 - 10 December 2023. For the first time, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) co-hosted a Pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) together with its two flagship initiatives: the G20 Global Land Initiative and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), as well as partners, the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

10/12 Climate Smart Agriculture in Africa

The event explored synergies between the UNCCD and UNFCCC regimes with a focus on pathways for strengthening global finance mechanisms for drought and land degradation in the context of climate change adaptation and responses to residual loss and damage. The discussion provided regional insights from Africa on opportunities for enhancing national governance structures for effective allocation and utilization of climate finance for tackling drought and land degradation.

10/12 Unleashing the power of crop diversity for climate resilience

Protecting global crop diversity is key to climate resilience. The species richness and genetic diversity of crops and their wild relatives can help us adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on food systems and ensure food security, especially for vulnerable rural communities. Increasing climate change requires climate-smart crops, especially those adapted to drought. This requires further policy and financial decisions, as well as proactive action and implementation. The event highlighted the importance of climate- and water-sensitive crops and showcased examples from different countries.

10/12 Growing Protein Without Footprints on Non-Arable Land: Food Security and Climate Mitigation

In 30 years, there will be 10 billion people on the planet requiring 50% to 70% more food. The world is still using meat as its main protein source and livestock needs feed, which is 90% soybeans. However, there is insufficient arable land available to meet this higher soybean demand. The result is an impending global protein shortage. Sustainable Planet has revolutionized protein production by cultivating high-protein aquatic plants, water lentils, on non-arable land. These plants yield 10 times more protein than soybeans, mitigating deforestation and food insecurity. With cost-effective infrastructure in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, they generate jobs for disadvantaged communities, aid smallholder farmers, and transform unusable and non-arable land into plant protein. The plant is also a carbon sink, reducing carbon emissions and producing oxygen.

06/12. Sustainable Finance Solutions for Food Security & Agricultural Resilience in Climate Change