Baku announces Harmony Climate Initiative for farmers within COP29

Within the framework of the 29th Session of the conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on climate change in Baku (COP29), it was officially announced "Launching the Baku Harmony Climate Initiative for farmers: expanding opportunities to increase farmers 'resilience to climate change".

Formed in cooperation with the COP29 presidency, the Ministry of Agriculture and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this important initiative is aimed at promoting climate change adaptation and sustainable development in agriculture, food systems, water management. 

The panel discussion on "Food, Agriculture and Water Day" was moderated by Kaveh Zahedi, director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Office on climate change, biodiversity and the environment.

Speaking at the event, the president of COP29 Mukhtar Babayev said that at the international climate conference hosted by the capital Baku, as in other COP, global initiatives have been formed for the world community. One of the main goals of the “Baku Harmony Climate Initiative” for farmers, one of the 14 g0lobal initiatives for COP29, which includes issues of agriculture, the environment and climate, is to expand the opportunities of rural communities, women and young people, and increase the resilience of agriculture to climate change. The President of COP29 said that the sustainable development of agriculture within the framework of the "Harmony" initiative will play an important role in the fight against climate change at the local and global levels.

Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov stressed that the goals of "Harmony" are simple but important. Minister said that, first of all, the "Harmony" initiative is intended as a platform that unites global efforts to transform agro-agricultural systems into a more sustainable and sustainable model by bringing together stakeholders in the construction of climate-resistant agricultural systems. This initiative, which will serve as a kind of aggregator in promoting adaptation measures in the agricultural sector, will bring together networks and coalitions to take advantage of their power and ensure the exchange of experience. In other words, this platform will play an invaluable role in helping farmers gain experimental knowledge, access to digital tools, and become familiar with world best practices and innovations. Secondly, this initiative will support the transformation of agricultural systems, will allow mobilizing investments that support sustainable agriculture. Within the framework of the initiative, as a result of international initiatives, cooperation between public and private institutions, as well as all partners, it is planned to introduce new tools and projects related to climate financing, thanks to which investments will become more accessible and effective.

The third point is that the "Harmony" Initiative will play an important role in increasing the opportunities of farmers, especially women and young people, which are the backbone of Agriculture and the main driving force of future sustainability. By equipping them with the necessary tools, training and climate funding, Harmony will encourage agricultural communities and farmers to continuously improve their practices.

FAO Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Viorel Gutu stressed that in recent years, climate change has affected many sectors of the economy, including agriculture. She noted that it is important to pay special attention to the support of rural communities, women and youth activities, climate finance within the framework of the struggle measures: “Over the past 10 years, initiatives, coalitions, networks and partnerships related to agro-food systems, climate change and finance have developed significantly. At the same time, more coordination is needed to implement more effective climate measures and carry out a faster transformation of agro-food systems. Harmony Initiative is very important in this regard". After the official opening ceremony, “Why is harmony important? What gaps will this initiative address?" panel session was held. Speaking at the session, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilhama Gadimova emphasized that the agrarian sector plays an important role in ensuring employment in the regions, including in the formation of rural communities, incomes of women and young people, this initiative will promote digital literacy of women and young people in the fight against climate change, provide access to digital tools, and support individual farms.

Shobha Shetty, global director of Agriculture and food at the World Bank, Jemimah Njuki, Head of the UN Women's Economic Development Division, Andrea Porro, Secretary General of the World Farmers ' Organization, and other speakers spoke at the panel discussions and emphasized the importance of global cooperation in combating climate change and their support for the Baku Harmony Climate Initiative for farmers.

Panel discussions continued in question-answer format.