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Daily Recap

Wednesday, November 16
Biodiversity Day

Summary

Agricultural biodiversity is essential to human survival, impacting our health while providing income, food, and raw materials. Yet, climate change is threatening biodiversity due to forest degradation and habitat fragmentation. By creating services like nutrient cycling and pest management, for example, we can improve food and water security and mitigate climate change without the need for costly interventions. More effective biodiversity policies could even reduce the risk of future pandemics.

Biodiversity Day sought to mobilize these global actions towards halting biodiversity loss, building more resilient production systems, and delivering ecosystem-based solutions which drive climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Highlights

Several events at the Pavilion highlighted the important role of biodiversity in climate action. Throughout the day, pavilion co-hosts and partners:

  • Discussed ways to support farmers organizations and Indigenous Peoples upscaling biocentric climate action. In this event, Indigenous Peoples and forest and farm producer organizations shared information about their holistic food, knowledge, and territorial management systems, the Indigenous Peoples’ biocentric approach, and their contribution to ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. Learn more.
  • Highlighted the potential for nature-based solutions to increase resilience and harness finance for the Great Green Wall. The session showcased applications of nature-based solution approaches helping to restore the Sahel and address food insecurity, climate change and biodiversity loss. Learn more.
  • Elaborated on how four new CGIAR Initiatives — Agroecology, Nature-Positive Solutions, Sustainable Intensification and Excellence in Agronomy — can join forces to create a framework for more productive, nutritious, sustainable and socially just food systems. Learn more.
  • Explored ways to leverage the key role of forests and trees in simultaneously supporting climate stability and food security through the launch of three complementary publications by FAO and partners. Learn more.

Alongside the events, pavilion co-hosts met with high-level partners and stakeholders, including the Co-Facilitator for input for the UNFCCC Global Stocktake.

Reel of the day

Videos and photos

Watch recordings and see photos from the events on November 16. You can also visit the COP27 Food and Agriculture Pavilion YouTube playlist to see all recordings from the Pavilion.

 

Beyond the Pavilion

Other events

  • Claudia Sadoff, CGIAR Executive Managing Director, gave a statement during the High-Level Segment.

COP27 news

  • The post-flood food crisis for millions of Africans (Axios). Read more.
  • Finance negotiations slow; Adaptation Fund Board draft texts concluded and an agreement is reached; Santiago Network parties reach agreement on compromise text (IISD, Reuters, Axios). Read more here, here, here, and here.
  • Egypt signs nine agreements, including a promise to shift to renewable energy (Sustainability Magazine). Read more.
  • The energy transition away from fossil fuels is slow (Forbes). Read more.
  • France and Spain pledge to stop sales of gasoline-driven vehicles by 2035 (Reuters). Read more.
  • ENACT initiative launched for nature-based solutions; Special focus on using science and innovation to protect coral reefs. Read more.
  • Launch of anti-hunger campaigns – Beans is How (BiH) and Hungry for Action (H4A) – to provide a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system which can potentially end hunger in all its forms by 2030 (FoodTank). Read more.
  • Key architects of the Paris Agreement call for world leaders to deliver an ambitious and transformative global biodiversity agreement; Singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding launches an initiative to save coral reefs; Indigenous leaders call for climate action that draws upon science and ancestral knowledge (UN News). Read more.
  • United States announces ocean-based climate solutions and engages on ocean issues in COP27 negotiations (US Government). Read more.
  • The United Arab Emirates lobbies around COP28, portraying the UAE as a leading global partner on environmental issues (Guardian). Read more.
  • Brazil’s president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promises to bring a complete turnaround on environmental approaches. Read more here, here, here, and here.
  • N. nature summit to build on climate talk momentum at COP27 (Reuters). Read more.