Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
benefi ts and minimizing negative trade-offs across
the multiple objectives that agriculture is being
called upon to address: food security, develop-
ment, and climate change adaptation and
mitigation.
There is as yet no blueprint for climate-
resilient agriculture. However, there are a number
of “early action” measures countries and commu-
nities could take to facilitate confi dence, capac-
ity, knowledge, and experience to transition to
sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural produc-
tion systems. Such measures include data collec-
tion, policy development, and the support of
demonstration activities. Pursuing early action
activities will result in country-specifi c data and
knowledge as well as experience with agricul-
tural practices and policies that could inform
long-term national strategies. A strategy that
brings together prioritized action, fi nancial
incentives, investment policies, institutional
arrangements, tenure security, and aggregating
mechanisms constitutes an important step in the
transition to climate-resilient agriculture. Specifi c
recommendations for further research include the
following.
an important mechanism to offset climate-
induced production decreases in certain regions
and secure access to and availability of food that
otherwise may be scantly accessible through
domestic production.
Some of the climate change mitigation
(response) measures that have emerged in recent
years - such as carbon standards and labeling,
subsidies for reducing greenhouse gas emis-
sions or promoting alternative energy sources
(e.g., biofuels), discussions on border tax adjust-
ments, and free emission allowances under cap-
and-trade schemes - may pose challenges to
existing trade agreements, depending on how
they are designed. Overall, however, good-faith
climate change policies are unlikely to breach
existing multilateral trade rules, either because
they would not be discriminatory or because, if
they are, they may be covered by the general
exception under the World Trade Organization's
(WTO) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) Article XX. Many potential confl icts
can be avoided if international consensus on a
climate change framework is reached. Possible
avenues to advance discussions on trade and cli-
mate change can be explored under the
Convention and/or in the multilateral trading
system.
14.1.1 Trade Dimensions
Feeding the world's population in a context of
climate change will require a gradual and signifi -
cant expansion of transborder exchanges of
agricultural products. It will be imperative to
ensure a mutually supportive approach between
climate change and trade policies as they relate to
agriculture. The biophysical impacts of climate
change will alter crop and animal productivity
and will further accentuate current trends towards
higher food prices. As a result, developing coun-
tries' agricultural imports are expected to double
by 2050 due to climate change. This evolution is
mirrored by a similar increase in developed-
country exports. These changes will affect indi-
vidual countries differently depending on the
extent to which they rely on agricultural trade as
part of their food security and development
strategy. International trade, combined with
increased investment in agriculture, can provide
14.1.2 Enabling Conditions
Adopting agricultural practices that are able to
withstand changes in climate and contribute to
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
requires the application of new technologies,
the modifi cation of existing ones, and changes
to relevant laws and policies. Technology
deployment and related capacity building in
agriculture come with signifi cant costs for
which developing countries, in particular, need
fi nancial support.
Under the Cancun Agreements, developed
countries confi rmed their commitment to provide
new and additional resources, including forestry
and investments through international institu-
tions, approaching US$30 billion for the period
2010-2012 and to mobilize US$100 billion
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