COP29: Farmers call for an end to GMOs, industrial farming, pesticides PHOTO

Agricultural producers demonstrated in the Blue Zone at COP29, emphasising that without transforming agricultural production, there can be no climate justice or achievement of the 1.5-degree goal.

The protesters condemned what they described as "false and misguided solutions" proposed by major agribusinesses for food production, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Among the banners held aloft, one proclaimed: “The Global North must pay for destroying the agricultural systems in developing countries,” while another demanded: “No GMOs, no industrial farms, no pesticides.”

The demonstrators accused large corporations of prioritising profits over the preservation of traditional farming practices, which they argue have been systematically dismantled in favour of industrial-scale solutions. These disruptions, they warned, are exacerbating food insecurity in many developing nations.

As COP29 continues in Baku, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has emphasised the urgency of addressing climate-related challenges, particularly in southern Europe.

Meanwhile, Kira Fortune, a representative from WHO’s European Regional Office, underlined the severe health impacts of the climate crisis. “Climate change is a truly dangerous crisis that has severe impacts, including on healthcare,” she said, pointing to recent extreme weather events such as storms in Spain and unprecedented heatwaves in Greece. “These are frightening consequences of climate change,” she added.

Fortune also highlighted the EU’s preparedness for potential health crises that could arise due to the climate crisis. Drawing on the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, she stressed the importance of applying this knowledge to address future challenges. “There is much to learn from COVID-19. We are ready to apply the experience gained if needed,” she said.

WHO data underscores the growing threat of climate change to global health, with increasing infectious diseases, frequent natural disasters, and declining food security already being observed. Experts are urging the global community to intensify efforts to combat the crisis, warning that failure to act could lead to catastrophic consequences for both human health and the global economy.

By Aghakazim Guliyev