UAE minister calls for transformation of food systems to achieve Paris Agreement goals

Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, emphasized the crucial role of transforming global food systems in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Addressing the “Food, Agriculture and Water Day” event at COP29, Al Dahak highlighted the importance of adapting food systems to the challenges posed by climate change, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The minister noted that the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, and Climate Action, which was adopted at COP28, has already been endorsed by 160 countries. She stressed that this declaration is pivotal for addressing climate-related challenges within the agricultural sector.

Al Dahak also outlined the progress of the AIM for Climate initiative, which was first launched at COP26 in 2021. The initiative has seen remarkable growth, with the number of partners increasing from 79 to 800, and the number of participating countries rising from 31 to 56. Moreover, the initiative has attracted significant investments, totalling $29.2 billion.

The minister provided an update on the UAE's own efforts to enhance food security, detailing the measures implemented as part of the country's "National Food Security Strategy 2051" and the recently launched "UAE Plan: Emirates Program." She also highlighted the work of the National Agricultural Center, which is focused on providing technical support to farmers in the UAE.

In her address, Al Dahak expressed support for the Baku Harmony Climate Initiative, launched by Azerbaijan during its COP29 chairmanship. She praised the initiative for bringing attention to the global need for a transformation of food systems to ensure sustainable development in the face of climate change.

Meanwhile, Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Foreign Minister for Energy and Sustainable Affairs said that UAE aims to reduce landfill waste by 80 per cent to cut methane emissions.

Addressing the COP29 event titled "Reducing Methane Emissions from Organic Waste for Climate Action," UAE official emphasized the country's commitment to tackling methane emissions from the waste sector, calling it a vital step toward achieving global climate goals, including the target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Balalaa highlighted the importance of the declaration on reducing methane emissions from organic waste (ROW), which was put forward by the COP29 chairmanship. He stressed that this initiative is crucial at a time when urgent action is needed to address methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and mitigate its impact on global warming.

“The UAE is proud to support this declaration as reducing emissions from the waste sector is crucial in the fight against climate change,” Balalaa stated.

He went on to outline the UAE's ambitious goal to reduce waste in landfills by 80 per cent within this decade. This effort, he said, is expected to lead to a 37 per cent reduction in emissions from the waste sector.

"To achieve this, the UAE plans to introduce comprehensive national regulations aimed at governing recycling facilities, which will play a key role in reducing landfill waste and promoting circular economy practices," Balalaa added.

By Vafa Guliyeva