Dairy at COP27

Food certainly moved up the agenda at this year’s UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP27 in Egypt, with the first Food & Agriculture Pavillion which reflects how important a part the agri-food sector can play as part of the solution to the climate crisis. Global Dairy Platform (GDP), International Dairy Federation (IDF) and the Government of Uruguay hosted an official side event: The global dairy sector's climate ambition and progress towards achievement of the Paris Agreement which featured the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) global dairy initiative. This enabled demonstration of the progress the global dairy sector is making with climate action.

The DSF will provide the reporting channel for progress of the P2DNZ ambition which already has the support of more than 40% of global dairy production, making it the largest initiative of its kind in agriculture. Speakers included Dairy sector representatives, Global Research Alliance, FAO, Ministers of Agriculture of USA and Uruguay, IDF and the Kenyan Government. Read more about P2DNZ at COP27 here.

Also at the COP came an important and welcome announcement at the Global Methane Pledge Ministerial meeting, co-hosted by US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans), where delegates learnt from the Green Climate Fund who spoke of the approved US $3.5 million project preparation funding to develop a regional public-private livestock sector programme for East Africa. The four partner organisations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Dairy Platform (GDP), have already secured US $3.5 million to develop what is aimed to be a blended finance vehicle of close to US $400 million to promote low carbon climate resilient livestock. The climate mitigation and adaptation initiative will take place in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The livelihoods of many in East Africa are under threat from climate change and the increased likelihood of drought. The project will not only be supporting methane reducing activities but also productivity enhancing practices and technologies by smallholder producers whilst increasing the resilience of the rural communities. This work will also help improve nutrition for both the smallholder farmers and consumers. You can read more about this exciting announcement here.

Recently returned from a busy period at COP27, DSF’s Brian Lindsay commented that it was encouraging that agriculture featured more prominently this year and its role in delivering food security  against climate commitments as well as the impact climate change is having on agriculture. As well as his involvement in GDP activities, Brian was also involved in the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture negotiations representing the Private Sector. To read the final agreed statement of the Koronivia negotiations approved by the COP, click here.