The agriculture and land-use sectors are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, affecting food security and livelihoods. Urgent, transformative adaptations are needed to meet global goals and mitigate rising impacts. Despite policy frameworks such as NDCs and NAPs, implementation remains limited due to systemic barriers. The UNDP-FAO Climate Action Review Tool aims to facilitate actionable adaptation strategies for these sectors.
The agriculture and land-use sectors are at heightened risk from climate change due to their vulnerability to natural resource sensitivity and impacts on rural livelihoods. As climate-related phenomena worsen, the challenges to food and nutrition security increase, manifesting as lower crop yields, pest outbreaks, supply chain issues, and escalating hunger and conflict (FAO, 2016). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes the urgent need for transformative adaptation efforts, particularly within agrifood systems, to achieve long-lasting emission reductions and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2: Zero Hunger by 2030.
Despite overwhelming evidence calling for systemic change, adaptation efforts in food and agriculture have remained disjointed, incremental, and often limited by maladaptation risks. The IPCC warns that conventional on-farm adaptations will not suffice under the growing impacts of climate change, especially in vulnerable regions such as Africa, small island nations, and South Asia. Overarching structural transformations are necessary as agrifood systems currently contribute to nearly one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a fact underscored in recent reports (Tubiello et al., 2022).
Creating an enabling environment for a climate-resilient agrifood system is imperative to foster adaptation and mitigate potential losses. Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) are essential frameworks that outline necessary policy actions to advance adaptation in agrifood systems. Though nearly all NDCs (94 percent) prioritize adaptation strategies for these sectors, there exists a considerable gap in practical implementation, particularly in developing countries (Crumpler et al., 2021).
The limited success in executing climate initiatives can be attributed to several barriers, including inadequate data and information, ineffective governance, insufficient integration of strategies into national planning, and low levels of climate finance directed towards agriculture and land use. There exists a pronounced need for enhanced technical capacity and tools to aid in translating high-level NDCs and NAPs into actionable plans for transformative climate action. The UNDP-FAO Climate Action Review Tool serves to bridge this gap, facilitating effective transition from planning stages to the enactment of impactful local adaptation initiatives in agriculture and land-use sectors.
The agriculture and land-use sectors are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, as evidenced by the increasing frequency of climatic shocks that threaten food and nutrition security. These sectors not only face declines in productivity and the proliferation of pests and diseases but also contribute significantly to climate change, representing about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Given the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities—such as Indigenous Peoples, small producers, and economically disadvantaged groups—urgent transformation is required to secure food systems and attain sustainability. The growing body of research highlights that adaptation strategies, while essential, are currently fragmented and insufficiently implemented, particularly among developing nations, asserting a critical need for a strategic framework to guide comprehensive adaptation efforts.
In summary, climate change poses severe threats to agriculture and land-use sectors, necessitating transformative adaptation to meet global food and security goals. Despite recognizing the urgency for change, the implementation of adaptation actions remains limited. Addressing systemic barriers through effective policy frameworks such as NDCs and NAPs, coupled with advancements in technical resources, is crucial for translating adaptation planning into tangible actions. The UNDP-FAO Climate Action Review Tool emerges as a vital resource, empowering stakeholders to enact meaningful change in agriculture and land-use adaptations across vulnerable regions.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
