Advancing Climate Resilience Through Food Systems Transformation

Facing the harsh effects of climate change on food systems

Climate change is already harming people and ecosystems worldwide, with the most damaging effects felt in agriculture and food systems. Extreme weather and rising temperatures are disrupting food production and water supplies. For example, an estimated USD 3.8 worth of crop yields and livestock has been lost globally due to climate-related disasters over the past three decades—equivalent to approximately USD 123 billion per year or 5% of annual global agricultural production.

Climate-related extreme weather events expose millions of people to acute food and water insecurity. The threat is particularly severe for the approximately 3.5 billion people living in areas that are highly vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. Within these regions, which include Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and small island developing states, Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers, and low-income households are the most vulnerable communities. Agriculture and food systems must adapt to ensure global food security and access to healthy, affordable diets.

Advancing climate adaptation at the global level

Although global climate policy has long overlooked climate adaptation, the 2015 Paris Agreement introduced a Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) to boost resilience, reduce vulnerability, and strengthen the ability to cope with climate impacts. In 2023, countries adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience to implement the GGA, offering clear targets and guidelines.

The UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience (WWF & Climate Focus 2025; adapted from International Institute for Sustainable Development)

As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, governments must finalize the list of 100 indicators to monitor progress toward UAE Framework targets. This is especially critical from a food systems perspective.

Boosting resilience through food systems transformation

A recent report by Climate Focus and WWF titled “Advancing on the Global Goal on Adaptation Through Agriculture and Food System Transformation. Policy Guidance for Addressing Adaptation Needs in Agriculture and Food Systems” shows how agriculture and food systems can contribute to enhancing global adaptation efforts and climate resilience. While agriculture and food systems are major drivers of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss, they are also important levers for change to address these crises.

The report explores adaptation responses in agriculture and food systems and informs policymakers about actionable and proven solutions for adaptation of global food systems. Relevant key adaptation measures with proven benefits include:

• Adopting and scaling nature-positive food production with approaches such as agroecology, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land management techniques, agroforestry, and Indigenous and local farming and fishing practices.
• Increasing sustainability and resilience of supply chains with improved processes and infrastructures such as improved humidity and temperature control in storage facilitates for perishable items.
• Maximizing physical and economic access to sustainable and healthy diets based on nutrition and gender-sensitive agriculture programs, adaptive social protection, and disaster risk management.
• Strengthening food governance through recognition of rights to lands, seeds, fishing areas and other natural resources, community-based adaptation, investment in innovation, research and development, and participatory, gender-responsive and equitable approaches.

While providing a detailed overview of adaptation measures in agriculture and food systems, the report illustrates the wider positive effects of food systems transformation for sustainable development as a whole and the achievement of the UAE Framework targets. It includes concrete suggestions for indicators to measure progress in the implementation of key adaptation measures under the UAE Framework. Examples from Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam illustrate the transformative power of key adaptation measures and their successful uptake.

Reaping the adaptation benefits of food systems transformation

Agriculture and food systems transformation can enhance the effective operationalization and implementation of the UAE Framework. By fostering more resilient food systems and strengthening ecosystem services, agriculture and food systems transformation also contributes to climate mitigation and sustainable development goals.

To reap the benefits of agriculture and food systems transformation for global adaptation efforts, policymakers must:

• Take a holistic approach and consider food systems, equity, and justice when developing the GGA monitoring framework
• Take a multistakeholder approach to adaptation that enables meaningful participation of smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth, supports local adaptation efforts, and integrates traditional and Indigenous knowledge
• Align efforts across international and national policy processes for adaptation, sustainable development, biodiversity, and land conservation
• Scale up adaptation finance—especially direct finance for farmers and local communities—through fulfilment of existing commitments by developed countries
• Redesign harmful subsidies to support transformative food systems approaches
• Ramp up technological research and transfer for food systems adaptation in developing countries and at the local level

Read the full report online: https://climatefocus.com/publications/advancing-adaptation-through-food-system-transformation/