Australia endorses Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action

Australia has joined the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28.

More than 130 world leaders signed up to the landmark agriculture, food and climate action declaration, committing to integrate food into their climate plans by 2025.

For Australia, endorsing the Emirates Declaration strengthens and deepens the relationships we value across the many countries that have joined the call – this fundamental call to scale-up adaptation and resilience activities in the agriculture sector, and to maximise the climate and environmental benefits associated with agriculture and food systems.

Australian farmers are resilient and despite the challenges already posed by climate change, many are adapting and adopting new technologies and practices to minimise these effects.

Effectively preparing for and mitigating the devastating impacts of drought is critical for Australian farmers.

Meaningful consideration of Indigenous Peoples, women and girls, and youth must be at the heart of our work in agriculture and food security noting the significant roles they play in furthering resilience to climate change.

The Declaration recognises the linkages between agriculture, food systems and climate change, and looks to accelerate national and collaborative actions to address both challenges simultaneously, as appropriate within national contexts.

Endorsing the statement aligns with commitments made by the agriculture ministers in the National Statement on Climate Change and Agriculture to lead the world in climate-smart practices by:

  • sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and driving future profitability
  • improving adaptation and resilience to a changing climate, and
  • implementing pathways that will support low-emissions agriculture

COP28 is a critical event to highlight and discuss the impacts of climate change and the impacts on agriculture and food systems. Australia’s participation demonstrates a commitment to climate action and conveys to an international audience the value of evidence-based policy, research and innovation.

Partnership, collaboration and information sharing has and will continue to play a key role in shaping robust and resilient sustainable food systems across our region.

Australia is a member of several other important international initiatives and is playing a more active role on promoting sustainable agriculture in the face of a changing climate.

Since 2022, Australia has joined 4 international initiatives directly relevant to the sector:

  • The Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda on Agriculture
  • The Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership
  • The Global Methane Pledge
  • And most recently, the International Drought Resilience Alliance.

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