2021 in Glasgow is expected to serve as an influential and mobilizing setting for COP26, thus in preparation, discussions from the KJWA and other UNFCCC working groups will guide the keystone deliberations and decisions of this conference. With the already present devastation of the climate crisis, among the disastrous 1.5 degrees of warming within arm’s length, farmers are left with limited seasons to adapt. Hence, policy priorities must be designed to encompass comprehensive and interconnected solutions, while keeping in mind how these solutions can be synergized with addressing the adversities of the Covid-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the anticipated agenda items of the COP26 must seek systematic approaches that have global implications, such as livestock efficiency, farmer-driven policy, indigenous sovereignty and committed, prioritized financial support. Throughout these dialogues, the themes of women’s empowerment as well as the institutional support of young farmers and future farmers must be integrated within proposed solutions.
It will be difficult to meet Paris agreements without reducing livestock use; however, this requires considering the broad roles of livestock, which include food and nutritional needs as well as the center of many livelihoods — especially in the context of the Global South. The discussions surrounding global diets, and food system transformation altogether, are meaningless if farmers are not guiding them, therefore, to enable scalable mitigation and adaptation strategies and technologies, policy decisions must be farmer driven and farmer centered. The input of pastoralists is essential in discovering how ecological benefits and emissions efficiency can be harnessed in livestock management. In addition, participatory action research must be employed for research and resources to be advantageous for end-users.
To fully capture the potential of adapting to and mitigating climate change, it is necessary that agriculture subsidies are realigned to climate change agendas that incentivize regenerative practices, biodiversity intactness and forest conservation. In this lens, indigenous knowledge must be recognized as the future of agriculture, which will require indigenous leadership, expertise and restoration of land rights, therefore designating these as priority elements in policy and decision making. In terms of increasing technological uptake and access, traditional and indigenous solutions combined with modern technology and scientific advancements will improve knowledge gaps, such as agrometeorology services which have potentiality in boosting farmers’ production and income. The distribution and production of these resources must include equitable access and participation of end-users, in which the needs of women, men and youth are disaggregated to be fit for the diversity of farmers’ needs.
While subsidies will serve as necessary functions in funding food system transformation, they will not be sufficient, especially when investment is being called for on a growing number of fronts due to increasing vulnerability. This must also be balanced with the global economic fallouts expected from the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, one of greatest challenges of COP26 could be reaching financial commitments for assisting developing countries cope with climate change. Existing, emerging and constantly adapting struggles require sustainable investments, therefore to fill gaps not met by developmental aid, public-private partnerships will be indispensable. Innovation and cooperation have the potential of unlocking economic resurgence and job growth while also de-risking agriculture. This will necessitate matching farmers with civil society, banks and scientists, while also strengthening and prioritizing funding from existing institutions.
In anticipation of the conference, work towards adaptation to and mitigation of the climate crisis must harness the crisis of the current pandemic, through establishing transition synergies and approaches that generate multiple solutions. Cardinally, to foster a just and equitable transition, a systemic approach will require the amplification of voices of those who have been historically marginalized, including those most vulnerable to climate change and the pandemic – this amplification must be considering in preparation for, during and after this COP. Therefore, the demographic of the conference must include these groups and individuals in meaningful ways that transcends mere participation, but leadership.