For Immediate Release
Katowice, Poland (Dec. 4, 2018) – North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) Chairman Fred Yoder told global climate negotiators here that climate change is negatively impacting agriculture across the globe and requires a systems-wide solution.
Yoder’s remarks on the world stage came at the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where delegates took up agriculture challenges and needs during an opening session on the Koronivia Joint Work Program on Agriculture.
The work program was adopted at COP23 last year to develop and implement new strategies for adaptation and mitigation within the agriculture sector that will both help reduce emissions from the sector and build its resilience to the effects of climate change.
Monday’s all-day workshop drew together the eleven UN subsidiary bodies that touch on agriculture. Workshop participants heard of what the UN constituted bodies are doing now to address adaptation challenges and mitigation opportunities and comparing those actions to agriculture’s priorities.
Yoder called on leaders to focus not just on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but on all three pillars of Climate Smart Agriculture, which also include sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, and adapting and building resilience to climate change.
The subsidiary bodies are scheduled today to turn their attention to “modalities for implementation,” a phrase used in diplomatic circles to describe the ground rules for how the work plan will be constructed and who gets to participate in its development.
In his remarks to the session Monday, Yoder, an Ohio corn, soybean and wheat producer and one of the few farmers in the room in Katowice, said, “Those who work the land must be kept at the center of all discussions and decision making in the development of agricultural policy addressing climate change.”
He called on parties to work with and through NACSAA and the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA).
The Canadian Federation of Ag, Fertilizer Canada, C2ES, Environmental Defense Fund, Cornell University, Business for Social Responsibility and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development are among NACSAA member organizations represented in Poland, promoting climate smart agriculture policies and programs, and contributing the perspectives of North America’s farmers and value chain partners.
For additional information, contact Ernie Shea at 410-952-0123 or at EShea@SfLDialogue.net.
The North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) is a farmer-led platform for inspiring, educating, and equipping agricultural partners to innovate effective local adaptations that sustain productivity, enhance climate resilience, and contribute to the local and global goals for sustainable development.