Summary
As world leaders continued their engagements in the early days of COP28, the Pavilion was officially opened today, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Kate Warren, Executive Vice President of Devex. At the ceremony, CGIAR Executive Managing Director Ismahane Elouafi, FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, IFAD President Alvaro Lario, and Rockefeller Foundation Senior Vice President Roy Steiner welcomed COP attendees to the Pavilion and expressed appreciation for the partnership among the organizations that made the Pavilion possible.
The ceremony was complemented by seven events, making the second day of COP28 a very busy one at the Pavilion, as visitors took in presentations and engaged in conversation.
Highlights
During the second day of event programming in the Pavilion:
- FAO hosted an event to gather insights from those interested in oasis ecosystems on the appropriate governance of the implementing bodies of the Sustainable Oases Initiative. Learn more.
- IFAD hosted an event to introduce the Africa Rural Climate Adaptation Finance Mechanism (ARCAFIM). Learn more.
- At an event with IFPRI, The Rockefeller Foundation sought to galvanize action toward achieving SDG2 by taking stock of commitments and assessing whether they are fit for purpose given current challenges around food security and diets, and explore anticipated future scenarios under different conditions. Learn more.
- CGIAR hosted an event to explore strategies for expanding and replicating such pioneering mechanisms, including in fragile contexts. Learn more.
- IFAD hosted a high-level event that brought together leaders and high-level representatives from SIDS and donor countries to discuss the challenges and opportunities for building resilience and adaptation to climate change in SIDS. Learn more.
- FAO hosted an event to bring high-level attention to AMR and the need to transform agrifood systems to optimize animal, plant and environmental health, ensure responsible and sustainable use of antimicrobials and reduce the need to use antimicrobials and promote innovation for evidence-based and sustainable alternatives. Learn more.
- The Rockefeller Foundation hosted an event to showcase progress towards developing ground-breaking cross sector financial solutions which aim to accelerate the global transition to a regenerative agricultural system. Learn more.
Videos and photos
Watch recordings and see photos from the Pavilion on December 2. You can also visit the COP28 Food and Agriculture Pavilion YouTube playlist to see all recordings from the Pavilion.
Beyond the Pavilion
Co-host news and resources
- Countries committed US$890 million to CGIAR to accelerate agricultural innovation and address climate and food crises, as CGIAR launches a new investment case to support its 2025-2027 research portfolio, poised to deliver critical solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation. Read more here.
COP28 news
- Tackling methane emissions took center stage today, as the US announced a series of new regulations on emissions of this potent greenhouse gas and Turkmenistan, the world’s fourth largest methane emitter, joined the Global Methane Pledge. Agriculture contributes about 40% of total global methane emissions, meaning limiting emissions from livestock production and food waste is an essential part of achieving this global methane reduction target (The Guardian, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Reuters). Read more here, here and here.
- African leaders are calling for increased financing for adaptation: Yesterday, the African Development Bank Group launched a “Climate Action Window” to mobilize up to US$14 billion to support adaptation for 37 low-income countries; the Global Center for Adaptation will formalize partnerships under the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAA-P) to provide technical support to mobilize US$700 million green bonds issued by two Tanzanian commercial banks to finance climate adaptation (African Development Bank Group PR). Read more here.
- Vice president Kamala Harris announced that the US is to pledge US$3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, the main finance vehicle to help developing nations adapt to the climate crisis and cut fossil fuel pollution – though this is subject to approval by Congress, which is divided (CNN, Reuters, The Guardian). Read more here, here and here.
- At least 117 nations have pledged to triple renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements worldwide by 2030, having committed today to the Global Decarbonisation Accelerator (edie, the BBC, The Economic Times). Read more here, here and here.
- COP28 is the largest COP ever. For the first time, UNFCCC has published the full list of participants in spreadsheet format; 84,101 people are registered to attend, 3,074 virtually (Carbon Brief). Read more here.