Praying for COP28 - Agriculture & Food

COP28 - 10 December 2023
Agriculture & Food

Today’s focus for COP28, and for our prayers, includes agriculture and food in the context of climate change.

The Presidency says: “Climate change is creating severe pressure and risks for the agri-food and water systems that underpin human wellbeing. At the same time, these systems are also key contributors to climate change: one third of all human-made GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions derive from agri-food systems, and 70% of fresh water consumed worldwide is used for agricultural production

A short prayer

God of blessings,  the universe sings of your glory.  Deepen our gratitude for all you have made  and awaken in us a renewed commitment  to care for the earth and each other.

Inspire world leaders at COP28,  with openness to listen to those most affected by climate change  and with courage to act urgently and wisely,  so that our common home may be healed and restored  and all people, and generations to come, may delight in it

CAFOD prayers for the COP28 Climate Summit

A longer prayer

The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it; the world and all that lives in it. Thanks be to God.

All the animals of the forest are the Lord’s and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills. Thanks be to God.

The Lord makes grass to grow for the cattle and plants for us to cultivate. Thanks be to God.

The Lord brings forth food from the earth, wine that gladdens our hearts. Thanks be to God.

Oil to make our faces shine, bread that sustains our hearts. Thanks be to God.

The Lord makes springs pour water into the valleys; it flows between the mountains. Thanks be to God.

The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. Thanks be to God.

For all who cooperate and collaborate with God to bring food to our tables. Thanks be to God.

For farmers, growers, packers and processors, for breeders, stock people, shepherds and dairy-farmers. Thanks be to God.

For distributors, hauliers, retailers and stall-holders, for chefs, cooks and creative entrepreneurs. Thanks be to God.

For all who struggle to change the system, striving for justice and fair trade, trying to overcome political blindness and public insensitivity. For all who influence our thinking, our buying and consuming; for all who formulate policy and manage the market; for fairness and compassion in all walks of life. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.

For responsible stewardship in our using of your world; for sustainable consumption as well as production; for care for creation and compassion for each other.

Lord, may your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen

From Farming Community Network

From the Bible

Genesis 1:11-13

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day .

Genesis 1:24-26

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Matthew 6:9-12

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors

Issues

The current food system (production, transport, processing, packaging, storage, retail, consumption, loss and waste) feeds the great majority of world population and supports the livelihoods of over 1 billion people. Since 1961, food supply per capita has increased more than 30%, accompanied by greater use of nitrogen fertilisers (increase of about 800%) and water resources for irrigation (increase of more than 100%).

However, an estimated 821 million people are currently undernourished, 151 million children under five are stunted, 613 million women and girls aged 15 to 49 suffer from iron deficiency, and 2 billion adults are overweight or obese. … Observed climate change is already affecting food security through increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and greater frequency of some extreme events. … Climate change is affecting food security in drylands, particularly those in Africa, and high mountain regions of Asia and South America. …

Pastoralism is practiced in more than 75% of countries by between 200 and 500 million people. … Impacts in pastoral systems in Africa include lower pasture and animal productivity, damaged reproductive function, and biodiversity loss. … Fruit and vegetable production, a key component of healthy diets, is also vulnerable to climate change.

Declines in yields and crop suitability are projected under higher temperatures, especially in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Heat stress reduces fruit set and speeds up development of annual vegetables, resulting in yield losses, impaired product quality, and increasing food loss and waste (from Ch. 5 ‘Food Security’ of the IPCC Special Report on Land, 2019

Theologian Professor Douglas Moo, speaking at a Tearfund conference, 10 Oct 2023, said that the best translation for Genesis 1:31 was that mankind should be “stewards” of creation. Many Christians find the idea of being stewards is very helpful, though it is not accepted universally and uncritically. As we are made in God’s image we should reflect God’s character, and we can see how God is careful and generous to provide for all his creatures - see Psalm 104.

Hope

The COP28 Action Agenda will put a human face on policy choices and focus on delivering holistic outcomes on nature, food and agriculture, health, water, and relief and recovery … This central piece of the agenda will catalyze collaborative action on adaptation, preserve ecosystems, climate-proof food systems, and protect and empower the most vulnerable communities by investing in practical solutions to improve lives and livelihoods.
On the Action Agenda, in partnership with our High-Level Champion, Razan Al Mubarak, who is also President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), we will promote and platform initiatives that not only protect biodiversity and vital natural carbon sinks, but crucially champion those on the frontlines of conservation and adaption efforts, including women and Indigenous Peoples. (Taken from Message from President Designate, P.6 )
Gonzalo Muñoz, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP25 in Chile and chair of the Non-State Actors Pillar of the COP28 Food Systems and Agriculture Agenda, emphasised the bond between food systems and human health and the need to redefine our relationship with food. He announced that the High-Level Champions will launch a Call to Action at COP28 that aims to unite non-Parties – from banks to cities – under a shared vision to propel a food system transformation by 2030 (Climate Champions)
The International Energy Authority (IEA) has a ‘Breakthrough Agenda’ aimed at developing technologies that help reduce carbon or mitigate the effects of climate change. At COP27, countries responded to these recommendations with Priority Actions to decarbonise the agriculture sector. These actions also address climate adaptation, environmental protection and food security. This international plan for sectoral decarbonisation includes action to align on standards to favour low-carbon alternatives, coordinate government procurement to stimulate demand, and scale up production through support for finance, demonstration projects and R&D (adapted from the COP28 Themed Programme, Breakthrough Agenda page)

COP28 discussions

Today’s COP28 discussions will include:

Scaling innovation for food systems
Financial & private sector innovation: methane reduction in livestock & food-loss & waste
Integrating agriculture, climate & finance
Implementing the Emirate Declaration on resilient food systems, sustainable agriculture, climate action
Voices from the field & transitions to resilient & sustainable production
Enhancing food & nature linkages for climate action
Cities leading the way on sustainable food & climate.
Sustainable consumption: healthy affordable food for all & reducing food waste

COP28 - 10 December 2023Agriculture & Food