During the 62nd Session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB62), held in Bonn, Germany, the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) contributed to the in-session event titled “Inclusive Impact Assessment of Response Measures: Integrating intergenerational equity, gender, youth, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples,” convened by the UNFCCC Secretariat.

The event brought together policymakers, experts, and representatives from all nine official UNFCCC constituencies to explore how inclusive methodologies can be applied to assess the social and economic impacts of climate policies—especially on people in vulnerable situations, including women, youth, older people, persons with disabilities, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples.

Opening the session, the Brazilian COP30 Presidency emphasised the importance of equity and participation in climate action. In a context of increasing geopolitical fragility and polarisation, the event reaffirmed the urgency of making climate processes more inclusive, responsive, and grounded in real-world realities.

Representing the UNFCCC Farmers’ Constituency, the WFO, through its delegate Luisa Volpe, Advocacy, Policy and Partnership Lead, stressed that producers are not only implementers of climate policies but also key partners in shaping them. “All groups in society should be able to participate in the policy decision-making process because this is the only way in which a policy can be effective and implementable. It is not only a matter of rights to participate, but it is also a matter of effectiveness. We don’t have to fear the participatory approach to policymaking. Participation of stakeholder groups may take a little bit more time, but it brings richness, applicability, and success. Participation of social actors must be granted by the structures created by these actors to engage with policymakers at all levels,” the WFO representative stated.

The intervention also highlighted the importance of institutional structures that farmers create to engage with governments and influence national decision-making processes. “Farmers have organised themselves—locally, nationally, and globally—to be able to dialogue with political institutions. This is a precious resource that governments should see as key for building policies that are implementable at the national level. Vulnerable groups should be capacitated in strengthening their organised structures”

Drawing on experience in the field, the WFO highlighted a case in Kenya, where its member organisation—representing 90% of farmers nationally—is developing a national database to monitor carbon emissions and carbon sinks in agriculture. The tool is designed to support government policy decisions with concrete data from the sector. “This shows why stakeholder involvement matters. If we want to be effective, we must replicate what UN-level mechanisms have done—bringing all groups together and making them part of the process at national and local levels.”

The event also served to preview the upcoming publication by the Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI)—a technical body under the UNFCCC supporting countries in understanding and addressing the unintended social and economic consequences of climate mitigation and adaptation policies, ensuring that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions do not come at the expense of vulnerable communities.

As governments move forward in preparing their climate strategies ahead of COP30 in Brazil, the WFO reaffirmed the central message that inclusive, participatory, and impact-aware approaches must guide climate policy design and implementation to ensure just and sustainable transitions.

Screenshot from the event “Inclusive Impact Assessment of Response Measures: Integrating intergenerational equity, gender, youth, local communities, and Indigenous Peoples″; Image courtesy of UN Climate Change