Summary
Gender gaps persist in agriculture and food systems. Despite a significant percentage of the agricultural labor force consisting of women, women still suffer disproportionately from the adverse impacts of climate change. Interventions in the agricultural sector must therefore support climate resilience by accounting for gender dynamics and being gender-responsive. Gender Day invited discussions and formulated strategies for promoting gender-smart agriculture for food security.
Water is a vital resource for life and livelihoods, and an essential resource in the fight against climate change. Agriculture is highly dependent on water and increasingly subject to water risk; yet, agriculture is a major consumer and polluter of water. Establishing sustainable water resource management will mitigate water scarcity and prepare regions for extreme weather events. Strategies like irrigation management and early warning systems can also decrease grower’s costs. Water Day included discussions for cross-boundary cooperation on combating water scarcity and drought, and improving early warning systems.
Highlights
Through events focused on both gender and water, pavilion co-hosts and partners:
- Explored experiences of mobilizing innovative solutions to enhance food systems and food security based on sustainable water and energy use. Scaling these climate resilient solutions from the Middle East and Africa can help market value chains to transform and communities to adapt. Learn more.
- Engaged key stakeholders, including farmers and funders, to discuss the development of inclusive metrics and monitoring frameworks to track women’s (and men’s) progress on climate change adaptation and mitigation. Learn more.
- Highlighted why women and youth are more exposed to climate change and how climate adaptation strategies and climate-smart agriculture can help achieve resilience, gender equality and social equity outcomes at once. Speakers shared insights on gender and climate hotspot mapping, the Gender Empowerment Index, and the enabling policy and financial environment needed to increase gender equality and social inclusion in climate resilience. Learn more.
- Exchanged knowledge on climate change, gender and aquatic foods, identifying priority investments and interventions needed to deliver positive change for women’s empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion in aquatic food systems, while safeguarding ecosystems. Learn more.
In addition to gender- and water-focused events, the pavilion also hosted:
- The official launch of the new FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031. Learn more.
- An interactive event featuring members of the newly formed Beans is How Science & Innovation Advisory Council, who debated how we can effectively measure and achieve the goal of doubling global bean consumption in five years. Learn more.
Alongside the events, pavilion co-hosts met with high-level partners and stakeholders, including United States Special Envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler.
Reel of the day
Videos and photos
Watch recordings and see photos from the events on November 14. You can also visit the COP27 Food and Agriculture Pavilion YouTube playlist to see all recordings from the Pavilion.
Beyond the Pavilion
Water Pavilion
As a core partner of the Water Pavilion, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Center, was represented in two key events at the pavilion. The first explored how understanding governance, using contexts, and incorporating diverse voices and perspectives are vital to harnessing synergies. The second focused on the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus with emphasis on water, highlighting the need for cross-sectoral and integrated approaches.
In addition, Water Day saw the launch of the Presidency’s Action on Water Adaptation and Resilience Initiative (AWARe). The Initiative brings partners together to address water scarcity, support the implementation of policies, and promote cooperation between water and climate action.
Water Day discussions will feed into the UN 2023 Water Conference to be held in New York from 22 to 24 March of next year. The Conference will bring partners together to discuss water issues and define the Water Action Agenda.
COP27 news
- Consultations regarding National Adaptation Plans, funding arrangements for responding to loss and damage, the Adaptation Fund, Clean Development Mechanism, and goals for climate finance (IISD). Read more.
- COP27 presidency launches a work program designed to strive for successful conclusions of agenda items, in an effort to advance climate commitments (Food for Mzansi). Read more here and here.
- COP27 president urges commitment to a deal on loss and damage (Bloomberg). Read more.
- Launch of the African Women’s Climate Adaptive Priorities (AWCAP) initiative, which encourages women to take leadership roles in climate governance and decision-making structures; moreover, the Gender Thematic Day included discussions on implementation of policies which ensure fair gender inclusion. Read more.
- Indigenous women raise awareness of violence committed against their land and their bodies; Fear of losing 1.5C at COP27; Criticism of the proposed loss and damage strategy; Strategic alliance formed amongst three tropical rainforest nations for their conservation summit at G20 (Guardian, BBC). Read more here and here.
- Focus on water and the effects of the climate crisis on water scarcity (Guardian). Read more.
- Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister refuses to allow his people to become climate refugees, calling for reduction of global emissions to preserve the country’s environment and civilization (Sky News). Read more.
- Young activists represent their climate change-stricken communities, calling for climate justice and firm commitments from leaders to phase out fossil fuels (BBC, Forbes). Read more here and here.
- Call to tax the biggest fossil fuel companies and redistribute those funds to poorer, vulnerable countries (Guardian). Read more.
- The EU pushes to phase out all fossil fuels (Bloomberg). Read more.
- Ukraine’s assistant environment minister calls attention to the ecocide perpetuated by the war with Russia, asserting that peace is required to enact effective climate policies (Guardian, Independent, BBC). Read more here, here, and here.
- India requires large sums of money to transition to a low-carbon development path and for meeting adaptation goals (Indian Express). Read more.
