July 2017: The endorsed Strategy on Climate Change of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) aims to support countries in achieving their commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change and their priorities regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Strategy translates FAO’s core mandate into strategic choices and priority actions recognizing the vital role of agriculture support for achieving SDG 1 (End poverty in all forms everywhere) and SDG 2 (End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture) under a changing climate. The document states that FAO actions to deliver on these SDGs are also relevant to SDGs 14 (Life below water) and 15 (Life on land).
The guiding principles ensure that action under the Strategy is aligned with the principles of the 2030 Development Agenda and grounded in the values of social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
The Strategy consists of three elements: guiding principles; expected outcomes; and a plan of action. The seven guiding principles ensure that action under the Strategy is aligned with the principles of the 2030 Agenda and are grounded in the values of social inclusion and environmental sustainability. They include, for example: giving precedence to food security, poverty reduction and sustainability; leaving no one behind; supporting policy integration and mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and mitigation and food and agricultural considerations; and promoting evidence-based, scientific approaches and ecosystem approaches.
The Strategy seeks to guide FAO’s action towards three expected outcomes: enhanced members’ capacities on climate change; improved integration of food security and nutrition, agriculture, forestry and fisheries considerations in the international climate change agenda; and strengthened coordination of FAO work on climate change. To achieve these outcomes, the plan of action identifies actions to be taken by FAO and outlines how actions under FAO’s Strategic Programmes and Objective 6 (Technical quality, knowledge and services) contribute to that outcome. [Publication: FAO Strategy on Climate Change] [FAO Climate Change Website]