5 Milestones of the Global COP28 Climate Conference

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) represented a significant advancement in incorporating agriculture and food systems into global climate conversations. Many leaders from Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) partner organizations were factors in the conference, hosted by the United Arab Emirates from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2023.

Arla Foods
Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of Canada
Dairy Sustainability Framework
Danone
Fonterra
Global Dairy Platform (GDP)
International Dairy Federation (IDF)
S. Dairy Export Council

The number of agri-food side events was noticeable, as was the positive recognition of the dairy sector for its efforts in tackling climate challenges while addressing food security and nutrition needs. The dairy sector was involved in more side events than at any previous COP meeting, and the side events were generally well attended. GDP and IDF each hosted an official COP28 side event, with many of their delegates participating in speaking engagements throughout the conference.

Global climate action stakeholders marked many achievements at COP28. Here are five milestones.

Emirati Declaration

The COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action was signed by 159 heads of state and government, demonstrating the growing political will to scale up research and innovation on sustainability in food systems and agriculture and serving as a guiding framework that encourages nations to integrate sustainable food systems, agriculture and food security into their climate-related national determined contributions and national adaptation plans. The Emirati Declaration encompasses 75% of all food-based greenhouse gases and 70% of consumed food.

To help implement the declaration:

The U.N. Food Systems Coordination Hub will support national efforts and use the U.N. Food Systems Summit +4 as a key milestone alongside COP30 in 2025.
The Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation — composed of Brazil, Cambodia, Norway, Rwanda and Sierra Leone — is committed to driving systemic food system changes and inspiring other countries.
The COP28 Agriculture, Food and Climate National Action Toolkit was produced by a task force for integrating food in national determined contributions and national adaptation plans, featuring resources, case studies and priority actions.
The Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Initiative of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization will develop a work plan and establish working groups in 2024 with a goal to improve climate finance contributions to transform agri-food systems.

First Global Stocktake

Countries and other global stakeholders met to assess where they were collectively in making progress — and where they were not — toward the Paris Agreement’s goals in mitigation, adaptation and climate finance. The stocktake also offered strategies for future national climate plans.

The stocktake acknowledged that global greenhouse gas emissions are not yet aligned with the Paris Agreement’s goals. It advocated transitioning away from, but not phasing out, fossil fuels in energy systems, which is a first in U.N. and international discussions.

Key agri-food aspects include:

Stressing the need for significant reductions in greenhouse gases, especially methane, by 2030.
Noting the importance of transitioning to sustainable lifestyles and consumption and production patterns in addressing climate change.
Encouraging integrated, multisectoral solutions such as land-use management, sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.
Incorporating food-related targets of the global goal on adaptation.
Recognizing the private sector’s role in achieving low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

Global Goal on Adaptation

Parties reviewed the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work program on the global goal on adaptation; the goal was established at COP26 in 2021 to cover progress toward the Paris Agreement’s objective to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

The draft decision outlines specific agri-food system targets for 2030, which are reiterated throughout the global stocktake:

Significantly reducing climate-induced water scarcity and enhancing climate resilience to water-related hazards toward a climate-resilient water supply, climate-resilient sanitation, and access to safe and affordable potable water for all.
Attaining climate-resilient food and agricultural production and supply and distribution of food, as well as increasing sustainable and regenerative production and equitable access to adequate food and nutrition for all.

Loss and Damage Fund

The Loss and Damage Fund, which aims to provide loss and damage funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by floods, droughts and other climate disasters, will now become operational following an agreement reached by parties at COP28.

Several countries made financial commitments to the fund, including:

United Arab Emirates: $100 million
Germany: $100 million
United Kingdom: $51 million (plus $25 million for other arrangements)
United States: $17.5 million
Japan: $10 million

The fund was born out of a breakthrough agreement at COP27 in 2022. Recent developments are encouraging, as a lack of agreement has often been a barrier to progress in other negotiations, especially agriculture. Stakeholders left the conference anticipating that this agreement will open the doors for more positive agriculture discussions.

FAO Road Map

The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization launched a global road map to achieve a sustainable development goal of zero hunger without breaching the 1.5 C threshold, including achieving CO₂-neutral agri-food systems by 2035 and transforming agri-food systems into a net carbon sink (-1.5 Gt CO₂ equivalent per year) by 2050.

At the launch, the global vision was presented with the intention to develop regional plans and financial assessments by COP29 in 2024 and country-specific action plans and monitoring and accountability mechanisms by COP30 in 2025.

The road map focuses on 120 diverse solutions across 10 key action domains, including crop systems, healthy diets, soil and water, clean energy, and emissions measurement.

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P2DNZ is working to create a more sustainable future for us all. Ready to get in on the action? Join the movement by signing the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero Declaration.

Emirati Declaration

First Global Stocktake

Global Goal on Adaptation

Loss and Damage Fund

FAO Road Map

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