Penunia, the secretary general of the Asian Farmers Association, emphasizes the vital role farmers play in feeding the world, stating, "Who will farm for you? Who will plant your vegetables?" She and many others at the UN climate summit are calling for more funds to support the agriculture sector in coping with the rising threats of extreme weather events, droughts, and the need for improved agricultural practices, such as better seeds, fertilizers, and water infrastructure.
The Gap in Climate Finance
Currently, there is a massive gap between the $1 trillion in climate finance that poorer countries need and the amount that wealthy nations are prepared to provide. According to World Resources Institute experts, much of the money currently directed toward climate adaptation does not go to farmers. Smallholder farmers receive less than 1% of global climate finance, despite the fact that food systems contribute to about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
While agricultural sectors are crucial for both adaptation to climate change and mitigation of emissions, debates are intensifying over how funds should be divided between agriculture and fossil fuel emissions reduction. Some experts argue that agriculture adaptation is an essential part of the climate solution. Ismahane Elouafi, from CGIAR, stresses that addressing the issue requires significant investment in agriculture, which is responsible for a third of the problem.
Why Agriculture Deserves More Focus
Praveena Sridhar from Save Soil argues that while solving fossil fuel issues is complex, supporting agricultural practices that already show positive results is more straightforward. She advocates for focusing on solutions that are already proven to work, like climate-smart farming techniques that improve soil health and resilience to climate shocks.
However, others, like Zeke Hausfather, a researcher at Berkeley Earth, caution that changes in land management practices may not be enough to significantly reduce emissions. While agricultural practices like carbon sequestration are promising, they can only cut around 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year—much less than the 40 billion tons emitted globally. Hausfather warns that carbon stored in soil may not stay there permanently.
Private Investment in Agricultural Climate Solutions
Despite these concerns, there is considerable private investment in agricultural technology to adapt to climate change and reduce emissions. For instance, at COP28, the U.S. and U.A.E. announced a $9 billion initiative to drive innovation in farming and food systems, with an additional $12 billion announced at COP29 in Baku. This investment highlights the growing recognition that agriculture must be part of the solution to climate change.
The Urgency for Action
For farmers like Penunia, the stakes are high. She was disappointed that farmers were largely absent from the agenda at previous UN climate talks and hopes that the voices of smallholders will be heard at COP29. Without sufficient funding and focus on agriculture, many of the world's most vulnerable populations risk losing their livelihoods to climate change, undermining global food security.
As the debate continues, the challenge remains: how to balance the urgent need to cut emissions from fossil fuels while also ensuring that agriculture—which sustains billions of people—receives the support it desperately needs to cope with a hotter, more unpredictable world.