What do we need to know from the Bonn Climate Conference in June?
The UN Climate Meetings held in Bonn, Germany this month were critical preparatory meetings which lay the groundwork ahead of COP29 to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024. Significant agriculture recommendations were made to enhance climate resilience in the sector including the need for increased climate finance and investment in sustainable practices.
The consultations emphasized the importance of integrating soil health into next-generation Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through technology transfer and leveraging policy for inclusive protein diversification in the Global South. Additionally, there was a strong focus on creating funding mechanisms that directly reach smallholder farmers and enhancing the role of women and young farmers in adaptation efforts.
The talks resulted in draft conclusions and a roadmap for COP29, outlining the necessary steps and commitments required to achieve ambitious climate goals. The parties engaged in the negotiations showed flexibility and a collaborative spirit, leading to the approval of these draft conclusions in subsequent consultations.
Some additional insight for industry from those on the ground were as below:
The protein diversification discussion occurred at SSJW organised by NGOs such as Pro Veg. It will be important for organisations to submit workshop topics to conclude these
‘Food systems’ was the common term being used to promote reduced consumption of animal protein - this is not the intended meaning of the word or this term and we intend to keep a watching brief on this as we approach COP29
In the AIM discussion, there is a push to increase the participation of underrepresented groups at COP29 which will need to include agriculture
There is a lot of talk about ‘synergising’ targets, aims and indicators across the COPs and international programmes. If done right, this could bring coherence and reduce admin for farmers in the future
Also launched was The Harmoniya 4 Climate Resilience initiative, launched by the COP29 Presidency and the FAO, focuses on empowering farmers, villages, and rural communities to adapt to and mitigate climate change impacts on ag. During COP 29, the Harmoniya Initiative will serve as a platform for various stakeholders, including government reps civil society groups, and industry participants, to discuss and develop concrete solutions for climate resilience in the sector.
We will update this blog as other matters are covered after Bonn in the lead up to COP.