At SB62, the WFO represents the UNFCCC Farmers’ Constituency and calls on the UNFCCC Secretariat and the COP30 Presidency to ensure that climate negotiations deliver for the agriculture sector and communities.

With COP30 fast approaching, the UNFCCC Farmers’ Constituency called on the UNFCCC Secretariat and the COP30 Presidency to work together to ensure the climate negotiations deliver for the agriculture sector and communities, thereby strengthening the connection between the multilateral discussions and the everyday realities of farmers.

The Secretary General of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), Andrea Porro, delivered this message on behalf of the Constituency during meetings with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell and COP 30 President-Designate André Corrêa do Lago, held on 20 June on the sidelines of the  62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) in Bonn.

The intervention reflected a growing concern among farmers that the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture and Food Security (SJWA), a 4-year programme launched at COP27 and due to conclude in 2026, is running out of steam and losing some direction. The discussion so far has revolved mostly on logistical and procedural matters, at the expense of practical concerns and solutions for implementation.

While the first workshop under the SJWA, which took place on 17 June in Bonn, helped bring together Parties and key stakeholders, and agreement on a new Online Portal may provide them with a platform to continue the exchange beyond single events, more needs to be done to translate the political momentum in opportunities at farm-level.

“As [the SJWA] is coming to completion next year,” WFO Secretary General cautioned, “how can COP30 help instil new energy into the negotiations, and how can we work together to ensure an adequate representation of agriculture in the negotiated process after the end of the programme in COP31?”

©IISD/ENB – Kiara Worth

Porro also stressed the need for the UNFCCC Secretariat to continue facilitating inclusive and meaningful engagement opportunities for farmers within the UNFCCC process. Farmers’ ownership of the climate conversation is crucial, as the sector is facing first-hand the growing impact of climate change, and the global community feels an ever-increasing pressure to meet mitigation and adaptation goals.

In their responses, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary reaffirmed the commitment and support of the Secretariat to work with Parties and relevant actors, including farmers, to keep the Joint Work “meaningful”, emphasising the need to focus on delivery and implementation. The COP 30 President-Designate acknowledged that “the potential [of agriculture] to contribute to mitigation has been very underestimated” and emphasised the importance of harnessing “technological and academic capacity to ensure agriculture starts to be seen as a solution to climate change.”

The resolve of the Presidency is further underscored by the launch, on that same day, of the COP30 Action Agenda, singling out “Agriculture and Food Systems” as one of six priority areas. In the Fourth Letter from the COP30 President-Designate, the Presidency calls for solutions that promote land restoration, climate-resilient food systems, and equitable access to food and nutrition, framing food security as a foundation of resilience and sustainable development.

WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro with Ana Toni, Chief Executive Officer of the COP30 Presidency – ©WFO

The letter also highlights the importance of “Unleashing Enablers and Accelerators”, a cross-cutting axis focused on improving access to finance, technology, and capacity building, reflecting long-standing priorities for farmers to implement climate action on the ground.

The WFO is eager to work with all relevant actors, including within the FAST Partnership, to strengthen the role, engagement and visibility of farmers in the collective effort to implement the first Global Stocktake – “our Globally Determined Contributions” – and ensure that farmer-driven solutions are front and centre of this agenda.

Cover photo: ©IISD/ENB – Kiara Worth