Slow Food on COP29: So far, not so good

The conference agrees on an inadequate climate finance deal,  failing to deliver on food systems transformation amidst climate crisis 

The US$300 billion annual commitment by 2035 is insufficient to address the climate crisis, and does not align with the urgent funding required to support critical climate action in developing countries. It represents only a small portion of the US$1.3 trillion needed, which economists have identified as essential to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change and protect vulnerable communities.

The achievement of an adequate climate finance deal was not merely about preserving the 1.5°C limit, but also about justice for those who nourish the world yet are left behind and for ecosystems on the brink of collapse climate-destroying system of industrial farming.

“The conclusions do not reflect what the world and communites really need”, comments Edward Mukiibi, President of Slow Food, following his participation as a high-level speaker on sustainability and biodiversity protection at COP29 in Baku. ”Experts and high-level representatives have made it clear: climate change and food are intrinsically linked, and this fact can no longer be ignored. While food and agriculture played a prominent role in side-events and peripheral initiatives, without a place in the formal negotiations, there is a risk of this vital aspect of climate action being overlooked. Transforming food systems is our only viable path to achieving mitigation, adaptation, resilience, and ensuring good food accessible to all, but governments keep forgetting about it”.

Reflecting on the conference, Mukiibi shared mixed impressions. “Being in Baku, I witnessed the strong commitment of civil society, NGOs, and certain government representatives who grasp the urgency of the climate crisis and confront its extreme impacts daily. However, I was equally struck by the overwhelming presence of large agribusiness corporations, which even managed to include their own representatives within country delegations. Moreover, many of them continue to deny the realities of climate change and the critical role of local communities, small-scale farmers, Indigenous peoples, and traditional food producers,” he said. “We need the UNFCCC to take bold action to reduce influence from corporations if it aims to restore its credibility before COP30 in Belem”.

Mukiibi emphasized that these groups from civil society, often sidelined at global discussions, are the true stewards of biodiversity and ecosystem management. As we see in our global Slow Food network, they have lived in harmony with nature for generations, using traditional knowledge to sustain ecosystems and local food systems. Their voices deserve to be at the forefront of these international gatherings, yet they are systematically sidelined.”

Slow Food’s disappointment with COP29 Outcomes

At Slow Food we approached COP29 with an attitude of cautious optimism, but the outcomes fell far short of expectations:

• Lack of Ambitious Climate Finance: the weak climate finance deal is far from meeting the needs of developing countries to tackle the climate crisis.  Initiatives such as the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers launched at COP29 – that in principle should support small-scale producers, especially youth and women, who are on the front lines of climate change – risk to be without substance if governments do not ensure real financial commitments.
• Failure to give impulse to urgent Food Systems Transformation: Despite urgent calls for action, COP29 outcomes on food and agriculture were pretty muted. There is only one formal negotiation track for agriculture and food systems at the UNFCCC, known as the Sharm-el-Sheikh Joint Work on the Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture and Food Security (SJWA). The debates on the SJWA were largely around the functions and structure of the Sharm-el-Sheikh online portal, where countries and observers can submit information on how climate action can support agriculture and food security. Clearly this is little considering the urgency of a real food systems transformation.
• Inadequate support to National Commitments: While countries recognize the need to scale up funding for agrifood systems in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – A new analysis from the FAO finds that almost all countries identify agrifood systems as a priority for climate change adaptation and mitigation in their NDCs -, current estimates in NDCs still cover only one-sixth of the required finance, meaning a critical opportunity to mobilize resources for developing countries and implement actionable investment plans could be missed. However, with a deadline of early 2025 to submit updated NDCs, countries still have a small window to increase their ambitions in this regard.

Looking at the future

“I have observed a strong commitment from civil society organizations, governments and international institutions, and the private sector to promote more sustainable tourism that enhances community resilience, fosters accountability and transparency, reduces food waste within the hospitality industry, and supports ecosystem conservation efforts in communities around the world. These principles are at the heart of the Slow Food Travel programs we run in several countries,” added Mukiibi.

Slow Food reiterates its call for governments to step up and take concrete action to drive food systems transformation to tackle the climate crisis. Edward Mukiibi concluded: “Without bold action to transform our food systems, the  fight against climate change is destined to fail. It’s time to elevate the voices of those who hold the solutions. At Slow Food we will keep working to raise awareness on the need for an agroecological transition and look forward to the Brazilian COP next year”