FAIRR Initiative flags gaps in FAO’s new roadmap on climate and world hunger ambitions

11 Dec 2023 --- FAIRR Initiative, a platform providing climate risk analysis about animal farming investments to a network representing US$70 trillion in assets, voices concerns about a new roadmap issued by the FAO intended to align agri-food systems with 1.5°C and the second Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger.

While it deems FAO targets “encouraging,” particularly in the context of methane reduction and talks of shifting agricultural subsidies to support healthy diets, FAIRR Initiative argues the roadmap’s “current language does not go far enough” in aligning with the nature and biodiversity goals outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP 15 in 2022.

“Nor does it offer suitable ambition on deforestation — targeting the elimination of gross deforestation by 2035, rather than 2025 — as suggested by the Science-Based Targets initiative,” it maintains.

FAIRR isn’t alone in striking at the general semantics set out by panel hosts at the climate talks in Dubai. Locally farmed food proponents argue that the term “sustainability” is often defined too narrowly, neglecting its vital social and economic elements, such as livelihoods, equity, social justice and economic viability.

As COP28 draws toward its conclusion, animal farming remains in the foreground of climate talks.Last week, Edward Mukiibi, president of Slow Food, told Food Ingredients First: “Alongside ‘sustainable intensification,’ the following terms, ‘regenerative agriculture,’ ‘nature-based solutions,’ ‘climate neutrality,’ ‘emissions intensity’ and ‘efficiency,’ will also be in the back pockets of lobbyists, who doubled in number year on year in 2022.”

Meat emissions in talks
As COP28 draws toward its conclusion, animal farming remains in the foreground of climate talks, with plant-based diet proponents joining forces with the Catholic society in a bid to get Pope Francis to explicitly define meat consumption as the “root cause” of climate and global ecological emergencies.

“Agriculture alone is identified as the threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 (86%) species at risk of extinction and land degradation has been estimated to cost between US$6.3 and US$10.6 trillion annually,” warns Alexander Burr, ESG policy lead at Legal & General Investment Management.

Despite its limitations, Burr “strongly welcomes” the release of the first phase of the FAO’s Global Roadmap for Agriculture and Land Use. The roadmap was created in response to a statement calling for its release, signed by investors representing US$18 trillion and coordinated by the FAIRR Initiative.

“It is a complex sector that is both at high risk from nature loss and climate change, while also being a critical sector to transition if we are to achieve our international commitments set out in the Global Biodiversity Framework and Paris Agreement, and also the long-term strength of our health systems,” he underscores.

More than 150 countries now signed up to the Emirates Declaration to account for agriculture in their Nationally Determined Contributions, which includes, among other targets, the goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 30% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

“The FAO’s roadmap, alongside the Emirates Food Declaration, will set the parameters for a decade of transition for the global food sector. Policymakers in Dubai have sent a clear signal to the markets that the agri-food sector will be tightly bound into the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions in 2025,” says Sofia Condes, head of Investor Outreach, FAIRR Network.

“It signals that investments in sustainable food innovations, such as alternative protein, regenerative agriculture and deforestation-free supply chains must play a bigger role in ensuring global nutrition security while meeting climate and nature goals.”

Agriculture alone is identified as the threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 (86%) species at risk of extinction.Ten “measurable and timebound” targets
The initial phase of the report released on Sunday by the FAO outlines ten targets that are measurable and timebound, covering the issues of crops, soil and forests among others.

“However, full details behind these targets and whether they align with the 1.5 trajectory can only be meaningfully assessed once the full report is published — expected in the coming days,” FAIRR Initiative stresses.

“Climate science is clear that we must urgently transition the food sector to a future where the job of putting food on our plates doesn’t cost the Earth. For nearly two years, FAIRR’s investor members have called for the UN FAO to lead the transition by setting out milestones in a roadmap for the food and agriculture sector,” urges Jeremy Coller, chair and founder of FAIRR.

“As we saw with the energy sector, a roadmap can send a clear signal and help ensure policy and capital are in sync.”

Coller suggests the summary report issued this weekend is “just the start of this important conversation.” He anticipates investors and other stakeholders will welcome the focus on methane reduction and realigned subsidies to support farmers’ transition, but will demand more detail on areas such as deforestation, healthy diets, water and antibiotic usage.

“It is critically important that this COP ends with food and agriculture being accounted for in the Global Stocktake.”

By Benjamin Ferrer