At COP26, the United Kingdom is leading a group of 45 countries in confronting the industry that accounts for a quarter of global emissions and making commitments to immediately safeguard the environment and transition to more sustainable farming practices.
Agriculture, forestry, and other land uses account for over 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making the industry vital to safeguard. The focus on agriculture comes after more than 100 nations pledged earlier this week to halt deforestation by 2030.
The 45 nations involved have pledged to develop new rules and invest more research and innovation in order to discover more environmentally friendly farming methods while also safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.
The plan calls on the government to leverage more than $4 billion (£3.5 billion) in public funds to develop innovative farming innovations that are more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.
The United Kingdom has pledged £500 million to safeguard five million hectares of rainforests from destruction, the equivalent of 3.5 million football fields. Boris Johnson has pledged £25 million to tropical countries to assist them construct sustainable supply chains, and £40 million to establish the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate, with the goal of boosting conservation efforts and improving biodiversity preservation in more vulnerable countries.
“To keep 1.5° alive, we need action from all element of society, including an urgent revolution in the way we manage ecosystems and cultivate, produce, and consume food on a global scale,” said Environment Secretary George Eustace.
“People, nature, and climate must be at the center of our food systems.” Our new agricultural system in England, which will incentivize farmers to grow more sustainably, make room for wildlife on their land, and cut carbon emissions, is being led by the UK government.
“A fair and just transition is required to safeguard the lives and food security of millions of people throughout the world, with farmers, indigenous peoples, and local communities having a key part in these plans.”