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Please see herebelow news on FAO's work on climate change.

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Amir Kassam
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From: Technical Network on Climate Change <[log in to unmask]focus.com>
Date: 5 December 2017 at 16:40:43 GMT+3
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Subject: Technical Network on Climate Change

 

Special COP 23 issue
FAO e-update on Climate and Food
 December 2017, Issue #2

 

See the ONLINE VERSION

News on FAO's work on climate change

This is a special edition, dedicated to FAO's engagement at COP 23 in Bonn, Germany (6-17 November 2017). 

Welcome to FAO's ne-update on climate and food. Here you will get the latest news on FAO's work on climate change and learn what the Organization is doing in-house and on the ground. The e-update will come out on a regular basis, feel free to share it with your networks! For more information on FAO's work on climate change visit www.fao.org/climate-change or follow us on Twitter @FAOclimate.

 

COP decision on Issues Relating to Agriculture
A historic decision entitled Koronivia joint work on agriculture was adopted by this year’s international climate conference, COP23, recognizing the importance of agriculture in responding to climate change. These are the first conclusions adopted on this agenda item since its inception in 2011, and they were widely welcomed by FAO. The items mentioned in the decision cover many of the most promising areas for action, including soil, livestock, nutrient and water management as well as the assessment of adaptation, socio-economic and food security dimensions.

Parties and observers are now invited to submit their views on which elements should be included in the joint work to be undertaken going forward by 31 March 2018.

Among the 31 decisions adopted in Bonn, two additional decisions to highlight regard the operationalisation of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform, which aims to support the exchange of experiences and sharing best practices on mitigation and adaptation and the Gender Action Plan, which highlights the role of women in climate action and promotes gender equality in the process.


A growing space for agriculture
Over 16 000 participants, including Heads of State, Ministers and national delegations representing 194 countries, alongside international organizations, civil society and the private sector, gathered at COP23 to discuss how to implement the pledges made under the Paris Agreement.

FAO was instrumental in advocating and supporting the efforts to highlight that agriculture is where the fight against climate change and hunger come together, by tackling climate change to achieve zero hunger and through cultivating change by investing in transforming the rural economy.

Over the course of the conference, FAO organized 37 and contributed to 42 meetings and events with both high-level and technical interventions.


Global Climate Action: further, faster - together
The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action aims to catalyse and support climate action among Party and non-Party stakeholders in the pre-2020 period and beyond. FAO co-led thematic climate action events on agriculture and oceans and High-level Roundtables on Climate Action for Zero Hunger, and contributed to water and resilience action events:

  • Agriculture Action Day rallied momentum for agriculture-based climate solutions in light of the adaptation and mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement. The side events of the day showcased the work and expertise of FAO in different thematic contexts, including managing water scarcity and food waste, integrated landscape management, low carbon livestock and climate-smart agriculture. The second, fully digital edition of the Climate-Smart Agriculture Sourcebook was launched on the occasion, providing policy makers and practitioners with both updated and new research, tools and guidance.
  • During the Oceans Action Day, FAO and partners showcased success stories from blue carbon and the blue economy initiatives, ecosystem-based management, climate resilience building for fisheries and aquaculture, risk management, and accessing to finance. The Ocean Pathway, launched during the Oceans Action Day and supported by FAO, aims to bring together existing coalitions, alliances, Parties and partners engaged in ensuring that the role of the ocean and climate change receives the appropriate recognition and engagement in the UNFCC process by 2020. The sessions of the day emphasized the urgency of challenges faced by Small Island Developing States, the importance of linking action with NDC implementation, as well as specific requirements for capacity building.
  • The High-Level Roundtables on Climate Action for Zero Hunger emphasized that, in order to achieve the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, hunger, poverty and climate change must be tackled together and create opportunities to transform the agricultural sectors and food systems to make them more sustainable, resilient and inclusive. Four roundtables addressed the uncertainty of climate impacts on food systems, opportunities and challenges for improving food security and nutrition – including a dedicated session on the particular vulnerability of Small Island Developing States, rural transformation and low emission food systems.
  • Co-led by FAO, the multi-stakeholder UN Climate Resilience Initiative (A2R) organized three High-Level events on climate resilience. These events discussed how to unlock investment in climate resilience, why resilience matters and how nature strengthens resilience. The pressing need for investment in the capacities to anticipate and absorb shocks and stresses while reshaping development for climate resilience was underlined.

The Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2017 was launched at the Global Climate Action closing event. FAO contributed to the sections related to Land Use, Oceans and Coastal Zones and SDG2. The yearbook communicates progress made and spotlights ways to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future. The Global Climate Action Days concluded with a call for more ambitious action from every corner of the globe, every sector and society, to address climate change.


Climate finance
COP 23 provides a valuable opportunity for developed and developing countries and funding entities to work together and ensure that countries receive the technical and financial support they need to deliver their climate commitments. Major announcements during COP23 included mechanisms to support the poorest and most vulnerable. Key examples include:

  • The Green Climate Fund launched the Simplified Approvals Process (SAP). The new process simplifies applications for certain small-scale projects of up to USD 10 million GCF funding. SAP requires less documentation for proposals, and accelerates the review and approval process, making it easier to access funds for mitigation and adaptation action. This process is particularly geared towards Direct Access Entities.
  • The Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) Trust Fund was established at COP21 to strengthen the institutional and technical capacities of developing countries to meet the enhanced transparency requirements. As at November 2017, USD ~40 million are still available for country and regional/global proposals. Although, FAO is a new player in the arena of supporting countries to meet UNFCCC reporting requirements, the organization has developed a solid portfolio of CBIT projects and aims to expand it during 2018.
  • Aiming to make the Adaptation Fund a firm part of the financial support to implement the Paris Agreement, Germany pledged 50 million euros to the Adaptation Fund. Another 50 million euros of German funding was pledged to the Least Developed Countries Fund to further support the development of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
  • The Government of Germany announced support to FAO of 1.5 million euros dedicated to the Thematic Working Group on Agriculture, Food Security and Land Use established under NDC Partnership and to help establish a knowledge hub to support countries in implementing the agricultural components of their NDCs.


 What's next?
COP 24 will be held in Katowice from 3-14 December 2018. During COP 24 Parties will have to finalize the work on the Paris rulebook and complete the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue, now known as the Talanoa dialogue.

The intersessional Bonn Climate Change Conference will take place from 30 April to 10 May 2018. Among other areas of work relevant to FAO, in-session workshops on issues related to agriculture will continue. FAO aims promote and facilitate exchanges between Parties in light of the work ahead. FAO will consolidate its own technical submissions on the topics identified in the agriculture decision.

 


          

Publications
FAO's work on climate change 2017 (French, Spanish)

Regional analysis of the nationally determined contributions of Eastern Africa

Executive Summary

Climate-Smart Agriculture Sourcebook Summary - second edition

Climate-Smart Agriculture Sourcebook: web portal


Tracking adaptation in agricultural sectors
Turning nationally determined contributions into action
Livestock solutions for climate change

Infographics

What is Climate-Smart Agriculture?


Videos

Astronaut Thomas Pesquet:
We only have one Earth. Now is the time to take action

 Voices from the field, Gambia 

Solution to Water Scarcity in Rwanda

Farming with Conservation Agriculture in Indonesia

Farming with Conservation Agriculture in Kenya

     

Facing up Climate Change, Transforming Rural Lives


Agriculture Action Day: Agriculture Based Climate Solutions – IISD Reporting Services

Oceans Action Day - IISD Reporting Services

Climate Action for Zero Hunger – IISD Reporting Services

Ride for Climate – IISD Reporting Services

Climate Change, Our Planet and Food Security - UNFCCC Facebook live studio


Audio


UN Climate Conference acknowledges agriculture sectors' critical role

FAO launches new Climate-Smart Agriculture sourcebook

 
   CONTACT

For more information visit:  
www.fao.org/climate-change
 
or contact us at: 
climate-change@fao.org
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