Globally, agriculture is a significant source of GHGs. At the same time, climate change is threatening the food security of millions. However, no official means to link and address these issues has yet been established within the UNFCCC (though there is an agriculture contact group in the Subsidiary Body For Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA)). A relatively new and dynamic player on the international scene might change that.

The Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture was officially launched at the UN Climate Summit in September, and has been making its presence known at the Global Landscapes Forum and the COP 20 side events. Climate smart agriculture focuses on sustainable agricultural productivity, food system and farming livelihood resilience, and mitigation of agriculture’s GHG emissions.

At 70 members strong, including governmental, scientific, and NGO leaders from around the world, this entity could be growing something new within the Convention.