USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Program can help lead the world in adopting sustainable agricultural practices, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says.
Vilsack recently returned from the 28th Conference of the Parties, or COP28, in Dubai, where global leaders gathered to discuss climate goals for the world.
He says the work the U.S. is doing in spearheading climate-smart agriculture practices will allow for data to be monitored and shared with other countries that will “result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, more carbon sequestered, and a better story for agriculture.”,
“The goal here, I think, is for us to continue to encourage more countries, more partners, more nonprofits, more businesses to participate in more innovations to be identified and accelerated,” Vilsack said on this week’s Agri-Pulse Newsmakers.
He said that through conversations and a partnership between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Gates Foundation, more resources have been allocated to the climate discussion in helping countries and businesses “scale up the innovations that are being identified through the Aim for Climate efforts.”
Aim for Climate is a multinational effort in which countries have pledged about $17 billion in climate spending.
Ernie Shea with Solutions from the Land, and Debbie Reed of Ecosystem Services Markets Consortium were also on this week’s show to discuss the next steps they think need to be taken to take after COP28.
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Shea says there was a big focus at COP28 on agriculture as a solution to climate change problems instead of as an issue.
“There's realization if the world is trying to stay below 1.5 degrees Celsius, in terms of the global warming increased, they can't get there unless agriculture is participating,” said Shea.
Reed says a big piece of the puzzle is helping other countries produce their own food so they are not dependent on the U.S. as their supplier.
“We need to make sure that in developing countries and other countries in particular that are feeling the impacts of climate change, that they're getting the financial, the technical, and other assistance to actually make their systems more resilient.”
Both of them said continued dialogue is needed to “stay engaged” and keep the conversation and the energy around the climate discussion alive.
Reed also says she will be keeping an eye on the pledges and commitments that were made at COP28 and if they turn into actual financing.
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