Scaling Up Practical Solutions for Resilient Agri-Food Systems: FAST Partnership and CCAC Ministerial meeting – Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

Report on Strategic Initiatives in Agriculture and Land Management for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: The Agrifood Sector’s Role in the 2030 Agenda

Agricultural and land management systems are critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet they face significant challenges that impede progress. These systems are central to global efforts to address climate change (SDG 13), ensure food security (SDG 2), and protect terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15). Key issues include substantial greenhouse gas emissions, widespread land degradation, loss of biodiversity, and risks to global food security. Effective solutions must be scalable and integrate the knowledge of farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and rural communities to advance multiple SDGs simultaneously.

2.0 Challenges to Sustainable Development in Agrifood Systems

The agrifood sector’s environmental footprint presents a direct challenge to several SDGs.

• Climate and Health Impacts (SDG 13 & SDG 3): Agrifood systems are a major source of short-lived climate pollutants, particularly methane. This accelerates global warming, undermining SDG 13 (Climate Action), and degrades air quality, which negatively impacts human health, a core component of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Land Degradation and Livelihoods (SDG 15, SDG 2 & SDG 1): The degradation of agricultural lands compromises ecosystem health and biodiversity, directly conflicting with SDG 15 (Life on Land). This reduces agricultural productivity and resilience, threatening progress on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and disproportionately affecting the livelihoods of family farmers and traditional communities, thereby hindering efforts toward SDG 1 (No Poverty).

3.0 Implemented Solutions for SDG Advancement

In response to these challenges, several strategic initiatives are being implemented to align the agricultural sector with the 2030 Agenda. These programs are designed with a farmer-centric approach, recognizing that empowering local actors is essential for achieving sustainable outcomes.

3.1 The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Agriculture Flagship

This flagship initiative directly targets SDG 13 by focusing on the reduction of agricultural super pollutants. It employs a farmer-to-farmer knowledge-sharing model, which promotes peer learning to scale up mitigation practices. This approach not only improves climate outcomes but also enhances livelihoods, contributing to SDG 1 and promoting sustainable farming practices essential for SDG 2.

3.2 The Resilient Agriculture Implementation for Net-Zero Land Degradation (RAIZ) Initiative

The RAIZ initiative is focused on advancing SDG 15 through the large-scale restoration of degraded agricultural lands. It emphasizes the integration of traditional and Indigenous knowledge, which supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and promotes sustainable production practices that are fundamental to achieving SDG 2. Its context-specific approach ensures that restoration efforts are both ecologically sound and socially inclusive.

4.0 Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Transformation

The Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership contributes to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by mobilizing and scaling climate finance for agrifood systems. As a COP-to-COP mechanism, FAST works to make climate finance more accessible to vulnerable groups, including smallholder farmers, women (SDG 5), and Indigenous Peoples (SDG 10). This financial support is critical for enabling the widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural and land restoration practices, thereby accelerating progress on SDGs 2, 13, and 15.

5.0 Ministerial Meeting Objectives for Accelerating Implementation

A ministerial meeting has been convened to foster collaboration and accelerate action ahead of COP30, with the following objectives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals:

1. To present the CCAC Agriculture Flagship and the RAIZ initiative as key practical solutions for achieving SDG 2, SDG 13, and SDG 15.
2. To highlight the farmer-centric and inclusive approaches of these initiatives, which are critical for equitable progress toward the SDGs.
3. To showcase the role of the FAST Partnership in mobilizing finance (SDG 17) to support vulnerable stakeholders and scale solutions for sustainable agriculture and land management.
4. To reinforce commitment and strengthen consensus on accelerating the implementation of land-based climate action in line with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.
5. To foster dialogue and collaboration among countries and partners to scale these solutions and advance the global sustainable development agenda.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article focuses on agrifood systems, food security risks, and the livelihoods of farmers. It discusses the need for sustainable production practices and improving the productivity of agricultural lands, which are central to ensuring food security and ending hunger.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • This is a primary focus of the article. It directly addresses the “global climate challenge,” greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture (specifically methane), and the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation through initiatives like the CCAC Agriculture Flagship and mobilizing climate finance.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article highlights challenges like land degradation and biodiversity loss. The RAIZ initiative, which aims for “large-scale restoration of degraded agricultural lands,” directly contributes to protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The article is built around collaborative efforts. It describes partnerships like the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the RAIZ initiative, and the Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, which aim to mobilize finance, share knowledge, and foster collaboration among countries and stakeholders to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change…” The article’s emphasis on “sustainable production practices,” “resilient agriculture,” and scaling mitigation practices directly aligns with this target.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article mentions that degraded lands “reduce productivity and resilience,” and the initiatives discussed aim to address this, thereby strengthening the adaptive capacity of agricultural systems.
   • Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.” The CCAC Agriculture Flagship’s “farmer-to-farmer approach” that “supports knowledge sharing and peer learning” is a direct example of building human capacity for climate change mitigation.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” The RAIZ initiative’s goal to advance “large-scale restoration of degraded agricultural lands” is a direct implementation of this target.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.3: “Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources.” The FAST Partnership’s role in “highlighting opportunities to mobilize and scale climate finance for agrifood systems” directly supports this target.
   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The article describes the collaboration among countries, development partners, and stakeholders through the CCAC, RAIZ, and FAST initiatives, which perfectly embodies this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: The article explicitly mentions addressing “greenhouse gas emissions, notably methane.” Progress can be measured by the reduction of these short-lived climate pollutants from the agricultural sector.
• Scale of restored land: The RAIZ initiative’s focus on “large-scale restoration of degraded agricultural lands” implies that the area (e.g., in hectares) of land restored is a key indicator of success.
• Amount of climate finance mobilized: The FAST Partnership’s objective to “mobilize and scale climate finance” suggests that the volume of financial resources directed towards agrifood systems, particularly for vulnerable groups, is a measurable indicator.
• Adoption of sustainable practices: The article discusses enabling the “wider adoption of sustainable agricultural and land restoration practices.” The number of farmers or the extent of agricultural land utilizing these practices would be a relevant indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ccacoalition.org