Many programmes have piloted and tested technologies, strategies and mechanisms to build resilience to climate variability and shocks in southern Africa’s agricultural production systems. A wealth of knowledge and experience has been gathered through evidence-based research and development. What remains as a major challenge is securing adequate resources to scale-out resilient and adapted farming practices to increase productivity and profitability, build resilience and increase carbon stocks.
Prominent speakers from the region will try to secure investment in climate-smart agriculture tomorrow at a joint side event at COP 25 in Madrid on 6th December 2019. An innovative theatre play for policy advocacy will be featured, followed by concrete evidence-based investment pitches and response speeches by global players. You find details and regular updates on the event here.
For this event and the investment pitches CCARDESA and its SADC/GIZ ACCRA programme have formed a range of partnerships – including with the Food, Agriculture and National Resources Policy Advocacy Network (FANRPAN), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Conservation International (CI), the Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), the Rural Self-Help Development Association (RSDA), the World Bank Group and Care International.
The Conferences of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) meet this and next week in Madrid, Spain under the presidency of Chile.
The UN secretary-general António Guterres expressed his “deep gratitude” to Spain for organising the summit “in record time”, which he described as no less than a “miracle”.
He further went on to say that the summit should have the capacity to give a very strong boost to climate action, and he called on “every government to say that their commitments taken in Paris will be firmly increased.”
Climate change has been at the centre of talks all over the world because its effects are visibly felt and can no longer be ignored as evidenced by continued floods, fires, droughts and severe cyclones among others. According to the UN Environment report, countries must increase their 2030 climate plans more than fivefold to limit global temperature rise to the tougher 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement, with delayed action leading to steeper cuts. Towards 2030, emissions must be cut 7.6% a year to meet the 1.5C goal. COP25 hopes that under the Paris Agreement, countries will revisit their climate pledges “by 2020”.
