1150. Biodiversity, Climate, and Land

Biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation are intertwined planetary-level challenges. 2024 was the Year of the COPs (Conference of the Parties), with three important international conferences to address the most pressing issues facing the planet: biodiversity, climate, and land. Following the Biodiversity COP in Colombia in October and the Azerbaijan COP on climate change in November, the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024.

The goals of these three conferences are to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2030, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% compared to 2019 levels to increase climate resilience, while conserving 30% of land, water, and oceans and restoring 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land. To achieve this, we need to review existing socio-economic attitudes, induce behavioral change, and apply innovation.

One of these opportunities is the transformation of agri-food systems. Agri-food systems are the leading contributors to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water use, accounting for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Large tracts of land are being cleared to meet the ever-increasing demand for commodity crops in the international market.

Transforming food systems through sustainable land and water management, regenerative agriculture, and the modern bioeconomy has been advocated as a way to achieve multiple goals at once. For example, drip irrigation can save up to 50% of the water used in agriculture, and practices like agroforestry improve soil health, benefiting food and water security and biodiversity. There is also a growing expectation of a shift towards drought-tolerant and resilient crops to ensure the future of the food supply.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program