From 31 October to 12 November, the UK, in partnership with Italy, hosted the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.

World leaders, alongside negotiators, government representatives and other relevant stakeholders, convened in Glasgow for twelve days of talks on how to accelerate action towards a successful Paris Agreement implementation within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A delegation of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO), led by the President, Theo de Jager, joined the event, getting involved in several panels and roundtables, to reiterate that farmers are pivotal in ensuring a successful action against the climate emergency.

In a nutshell, it is what happened in Glasgow!

Monday, 1 November 2021

Exponential Climate Action Summit IV — COP26 Backdoor — Food Production & Nature-Based Solutions

WFO President Theo de Jager addressed the broadcast event “Exponential Climate Action Summit IV — COP26 Backdoor — Food Production & Nature-Based Solutions,” hosted by the We Don’t Have Time movement that leverages the power of social media to hold leaders and companies accountable for climate change. Watch the event recording HERE

Wednesday, 3 November 2021

Accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement through innovative climate-resilient agri-food systems

WFO President Theo de Jager joined the event “Accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement through innovative climate-resilient agri-food systems“, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The event aimed to showcase the importance of technological innovation at all levels for achieving climate-resilient agri-food systems that provide affordable and healthy diets for all, tackle climate change, increase resilience for the most vulnerable, and revert loss of nature and biodiversity. READ MORE 

The Climakers: Presenting the Toolkit for a Farmer – Driven Implementation of NDCs

Within the framework of COP 26 Farmers’ Day, WFO and the International Fertilizers Association (IFA) hosted the official side event “THE CLIMAKERS: Presenting the Toolkit for a Farmer – Driven Implementation of NDCs“. Featuring farmers’ leaders and other stakeholders committed to supporting THE CLIMAKERS initiative, the event took stock of the progress made in amplifying farmers’ needs and solutions to climate change by presenting an “NDCs Toolkit“ as guidelines to policymakers on integrating agriculture into the national fulfilment of the Paris Agreement. READ MORE

Thursday, 4 November 2021

Raising Ambitions on Climate Action in the Global Dairy Sector to Achieve the Paris Agreement

Minette Batters, President of UK National Farmers Union, spoke on behalf of WFO at the event “Raising Ambitions on Climate Action in the Global Dairy Sector to Achieve the Paris Agreement“, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to introduce the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero initiative, an international public-private alliance to reduce GHG emissions in the global dairy sector. Watch the event recording HERE

Friday, 5 November 2021

The future of food systems: game-changing innovations for inclusive transformation?

WFO President Theo de Jager addressed the event “The future of food systems: game-changing innovations for inclusive transformation?” by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The session discussed inclusive and resilient food system transformation by unpacking the role of data and technological innovation, enabling policies, instruments, partnerships, investment. Watch the event recording HERE

Bridging the Science-Policy Gap for Impactful, Demand-Driven Food Systems Innovation

WFO President Theo de Jager joined the event “Bridging the Science-Policy Gap for Impactful, Demand-Driven Food Systems Innovation“, co-organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the American University of Beirut (AUB-IFI) and Columbia University. This event sought to raise the bar for more collaborative, action-oriented research and innovation for food systems, driving transformations for people, nature and climate, in line with the Presidency’s campaigns. READ MORE

Saturday, 6 November 2021

WFO President Theo de Jager talked at the microphone of COP 26 TV to tell the world what farmers are already doing to address Climate Change mitigation and adaptation and what they need to play their crucial role in making the Paris Agreement a success! Watch the event recording HERE

COP26 Nature Day – Accelerating a just rural transition to sustainable agriculture for people, climate and nature

Minette Batters, President of UK National Farmers Union, spoke on behalf of WFO at the plenary session “COP26 Nature Day – Accelerating a just rural transition to sustainable agriculture for people, climate and nature“. The event brought together governments, policymakers, and farmers together to showcase actions and ambition to accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture by redirecting policies and supporting and scaling innovation to deliver healthy diets, resilient livelihoods, and economies while protecting nature and keeping to within 1.5°C of global warming. Watch the event recording HERE

No ‘Net Zero’ Without Nature: How committed are countries to transforming land and food systems?

WFO President Theo de Jager joined the event “No ‘Net Zero’ Without Nature: How committed are countries to transforming land and food systems?” co-organised by the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). Watch the event recording HERE

The Global Role of Food Systems in Addressing the Twin Threats of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss

WFO President Theo de Jager addressed the event “The Global Role of Food Systems in Addressing the Twin Threats of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss”, co-organised by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), the British Retail Consortium (BRC), and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) – as members of the ‘F4’. Watch the event recording HERE

Tuesday, 9 November 2021

Green and Climate Resilient Agriculture. Supporting action at global level and on the ground

WFO President Theo de Jager joined FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate, Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, FAO and other esteemed panellists at the high-level event by FAO in collaboration with the Governments of China and the USA, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to discuss green and climate-resilient solutions in agriculture to address to the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, hunger and poverty. Watch the event recording HERE