Mariam Al-Muhairi Calls on African Countries to Sign the Declaration on Food Systems, Agriculture, and Climate Action
Participation in the African Food Systems Forum in Tanzania
Dar es Salaam, September 10th / Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment and responsible for the Food Systems file at COP28, called for support to transform the global food system and build momentum for the upcoming COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates. She made this call during her participation in the African Food Systems Forum that recently concluded in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam.
The African Food Systems Forum, organized by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), was part of a historic week of Emirati-African relations. During this week, the United Arab Emirates pledged $4.5 billion to support clean energy projects during the African Climate Summit.
Her Excellency Al Muhairi addressed the forum, stating, “This has been a historic week for the African continent. Just a few days ago, the ‘Nairobi Declaration’ was adopted, committing billions of dollars to help African countries achieve comprehensive green growth in the face of climate change. We, in the United Arab Emirates, are proud to pledge $4.5 billion to invest in clean energy potential in Africa. Our discussions in this forum also underscore the need for food system transformation to make them more resilient and inclusive, using them as engines for economic growth and prosperity for all nations. These events have laid a solid foundation for COP28, which will focus on energy, financing, and food.”
Her Excellency Al Muhairi emphasized the main goals of the Food Systems and Agriculture agenda for COP28, which were launched during the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2023 held in Rome, Italy in July last year. She highlighted the primary objectives of this agenda, including promoting national leadership, encouraging non-governmental entities’ participation, elevating innovation, and mobilizing financing. She urged African countries to enhance their commitment to addressing climate change impacts and mitigation in food systems by signing the “Declaration of Leaders on Food Systems, Agriculture, and Climate Action.”
During a ministerial session titled “The Key Question: Can Africa Secure Its Food Needs?” Her Excellency Al Muhairi called on African nations to sign the “Declaration of Leaders on Food Systems, Agriculture, and Climate Action,” emphasizing that this declaration represents a powerful tool for global food system transformation. The session was attended by several African heads of state, including Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania; His Excellency William Ruto, President of Kenya; His Excellency Macky Sall, President of Senegal; and His Excellency Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of Burundi. The presidential session was one of the highlights of the African Food Systems Forum and featured various discussions and activities.
Her Excellency Al Muhairi also discussed the importance of involving young people in climate action during the session and stressed the critical role of innovation in global food system transformation. She encouraged countries to share technology and knowledge to drive change.
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed full support for her statements, reinforcing the significance of her remarks. Her Excellency Al Muhairi urged African countries to join the “Agricultural Innovation for Climate Initiative” led by the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with the United States. This initiative, with over 500 global partners, has secured commitments to invest $13 billion in climate-smart agriculture and food system innovation.
She also called on participating countries to join the “Mangrove Climate Resilience Alliance,” a project initiated by the United Arab Emirates in collaboration with Indonesia, with the goal of protecting and rehabilitating mangrove ecosystems worldwide.
During a special ministerial event at COP28, Her Excellency Al Muhairi gathered feedback from African countries to enrich the “Declaration of Leaders on Food Systems, Agriculture, and Climate Action.” This provided a significant opportunity to enhance international cooperation and ensure that the declaration meets the needs of countries across the African continent.
In her remarks during the ministerial session on the sidelines of the forum, Her Excellency Al Muhairi stated, “Climate change is an urgent crisis that requires immediate action. To address it, we must focus on transforming the global food system in all our discussions. The COP28 presidency believes that all pathways to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate require first addressing food systems and climate action.”
In the closing moments of the forum, Her Excellency Mariam Al Muhairi rallied support for COP28, only 81 days away, stating that the United Arab Emirates aims for COP28 to be a global turning point in addressing climate change by refocusing efforts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring comprehensive climate financing, and launching effective initiatives to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, ensuring the protection of lives and livelihoods.
She reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates’ support for Africa in securing the necessary financing to adapt to climate change impacts, stating, “At COP28, we will stand together with African nations and call for increased climate financing to support the launch of food system transformation initiatives. Since Africa is responsible for only a small portion of greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential to provide all available support to enhance its food systems threatened by climate change consequences.”
Her Excellency reminded the audience of the need to reform African food systems first to ultimately reform the global food system. During the forum, Her Excellency Mariam Al Muhairi also engaged in a series of successful bilateral meetings with various African ministers responsible for agriculture, environment, food security, and water.
