On the second day of the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, the Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, showcased the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) commitment to providing sustainable food systems and agriculture. The summit, held in Rome, brought together world leaders, policymakers, and thinkers to promote collective climate action in the context of food systems.
In a session co-hosted with the World Food Program (WFP), Almheiri addressed members of the School Meals Coalition, emphasizing the crucial link between climate change and food security. She highlighted the UAE’s dedication to transforming food systems, particularly through school meals, which include local produce, climate education, clean energy, and waste reduction.
Almheiri expressed optimism in the potential of school meal programs to drive food systems transformation and climate action. She also highlighted the significance of a white paper by the Research Consortium for School Health and Nutrition, advocating for a two-fold policy approach to improve school meals.
“As we celebrate the Year of Sustainability 2023 in the UAE and move closer to hosting the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), our nation reaffirms our dedication to addressing the systemic issues in food and education systems, all within the broader framework of proactive climate action,” said Almheiri. She further stressed the importance of national leadership, non-state actors’ involvement, innovation acceleration, and funding prioritization in the COP28 Presidency’s agenda.
During another plenary session, Almheiri highlighted UAE’s successful investments in organic farming, vertical farming, AI solutions, robotics, and hydroponics. Projects like the world’s largest vertical farm, “Bustanica,” and the Food Tech Valley in Dubai exemplify the UAE’s commitment to sustainable practices and innovations in the agriculture sector.
Almheiri acknowledged the challenges in raising significant investments to future-proof food systems and production methods. She urged the global community to incentivize the adoption of sustainable practices to accelerate action in the private sector.
In a leadership dialogue on science, technology, and innovation, Almheiri discussed the UAE’s Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a collaborative initiative led by the UAE and the United States. AIM for Climate aims to drive innovation and research within the agricultural sector to combat climate change, meet growing food demands, and stimulate economic growth.
The UAE’s commitment to AIM for Climate has resulted in substantial investments, growing from US$8 billion to US$13 billion. The initiative promotes clean and renewable energy, reduces carbon emissions, and facilitates the transition towards sustainable food systems.
During the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, Almheiri unveiled the COP28 Food Systems and Agriculture Agenda and called on governments worldwide to sign a Leaders Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture, and Climate Action. The Declaration encourages national governments to align their strategies with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other climate-related plans, promoting food systems and agriculture at the heart of climate action.
Through these initiatives and commitments, the UAE aims to address global hunger, achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
Mariam Almheiri’s active participation in the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment showcases the UAE’s dedication to advancing climate action and building sustainable food systems, contributing to a greener and more resilient future for the nation and the world.
