CGIAR at SB62: Influencing Global Climate Policies with Science-Based Advocacy

As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 62nd Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) negotiations (SB62) convene in Bonn in June 2025, CGIAR is gearing up to advocate that food and agriculture are front and center in global climate policy discussions. These mid-year talks set the stage for outcomes at COP30 in Brazil later this year. In line with its mission, CGIAR will contribute scientific evidence, policy insights and collaboration across key negotiation tracks – from climate finance and adaptation goals to agriculture and just transitions. Agriculture and food systems, which account for roughly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, have historically received only 4.3% of global climate finance. CGIAR is working to close this gap through its contributions to influence global climate policy

Integrating Agriculture in Climate Action

The first letter from COP30 President-Designate André Aranha Corrêa do Lago highlights the urgent need for collective climate action, emphasizing critical issues such as deforestation, desertification, biodiversity loss, and conservation. While forests are crucial as carbon sinks and biodiversity reservoirs, agriculture and land use are equally vital in climate resilience. Agriculture significantly impacts land degradation and offers substantial potential for emissions reductions, carbon sequestration, and sustainable development.

CGIAR is actively engaged across seven key negotiation areas within the UNFCCC process to support these goals. These focal areas include just transitions (JTWP), climate finance through the New Collective Quantified Goal for climate finance (NCQG) , the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), promoting sustainable agriculture and food security through the Sharm el-Sheikh joint work on implementation of climate action on agriculture and food security, mainstreaming gender equality, advocating for effective non-market approaches (Article 6.8), and addressing climate-induced loss and damage.

CGIAR’s Contributions to UNFCCC Negotiation Tracks

The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance

In 2024, CGIAR actively engaged in Technical Expert Dialogues (TED9, TED10, and TED11), submitting evidence-based inputs that aligned climate finance with national priorities (NDCs, NAPs) and scientific guidance. CGIAR highlights that prioritizing agriculture, water, and food systems is crucial to achieving global food security and requires an estimated $300–400 billion annually to transform these systems in line with the 1.5°C target. Equitable financial allocation across adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage is essential.

Although COP29 adopted a new NCQG of at least $300 billion per year by 2035—ostensibly tripling the previous $100 billion target this goal remains modest compared to the real needs of developing countries, which had requested $1.3 trillion annually. For context, the $300–400 billion needed annually for food systems transformation already exceeds the new target.

At SB62, CGIAR will advocate for explicit recognition of agriculture as a priority within climate finance discussions, emphasizing the need for transparent, equitable funding mechanisms responsive to farmers’ needs. This engagement aims to ensure significant progress at SB62 and set the stage for a stronger financial commitment at COP30.

Global Goal on Adaptation

As climate impacts escalate, the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) is increasingly central to UNFCCC discussions. At CMA 5, Parties adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience, as part of the UAE Consensus. 

The framework includes 11 targets – 7 thematic and 4 dimensional targets – for climate adaptation and resilience. CMA 5 also established a two-year UAE – Belém work programme, on the development of indicators for measuring progress achieved towards the targets outlined in the framework, and Parties provided guidance on the structure and modalities of the work programme at SB 60. The modalities for the work programme integrate some of the suggestions in a submission  made by CGIAR and one led by partners through its Center – IWMI.

SB60 requested its Chairs to convene technical experts to support the work on GGA indicators under the work programme. In 2024, the UNFCCC selected two CGIAR experts—Dr. Aditi Mukherji (CGIAR Climate Impact Platform) and Dr. Lucy Njuguna (Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT), to join a global team of 78 experts. This team is tasked with refining indicators across all 11 targets, ensuring that they are robust, inclusive, and scientifically credible for assessing adaptation and resilience. The full list of convened experts can be found here. Also find here the reports prepared by the technical experts supporting the work under UAE-Belém work programme on indicators.

 COP29 negotiations reflected significant divisions around indicators for means of implementation (MOI), primarily climate finance and transformational adaptation. The outcome was the “Baku Adaptation Roadmap,” ensuring indicators are collaboratively developed across thematic areas, emphasizing interconnections crucial to food, water, biodiversity, and infrastructure. The contentious MOI indicators were reframed as broader “enablers of implementation,” while transformational adaptation was recognized with caution due to potential funding barriers.

At SB62, parties will continue discussions on the development of GGA indicators. CGIAR will continue advocating for GGA indicators that integrate food security, rural livelihoods, and climate-smart agriculture, urging Parties to adopt clear, actionable pathways that strengthen agriculture and food systems resilience ahead of COP30.

Agriculture and Food Security  

CGIAR actively contributed to the agriculture track through three key submissions in 2023: the  Joint Submission FLW_SSJW, Joint submission – Elements of the SSJW_27 03 23, and the Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems Submission. At COP29, Parties adopted conclusions from the agriculture track, requesting further development of the online portal to share climate action initiatives and policies on agriculture and food security.

In January 2025, CGIAR jointly submitted recommendations to the Sharm el-Sheikh Mitigation Ambition and Implementation Work Programme (MWP), on “ 2025 global dialogues of the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme .The submission advocates for a comprehensive food systems approach from production to consumption, addressing mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development, emphasizing environmental, health, and economic co-benefits.

In February, a CGIAR joint submission for the SJWA Workshop highlighted the IPCC’s call for Systemic and Holistic Approaches to Climate Action on Agriculture, Food Systems, and Food Security. Led by the CGIAR’s Center- Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, the proposal outlined four workshop segments: evidence review, regional case studies, interactive discussions, and action-oriented dialogues, advocating inclusivity with participation from IPCC, FAO, UN Food Systems Summit experts, farmers, and indigenous representatives.

Another submission by CGIAR’s International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) on Systemic and Holistic Approaches to Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture, Food Systems and Food Security, Understanding, Cooperation and Integration into Plans further recommended incorporating the integral role of livestock in systemic approaches to climate action within agriculture and food systems, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts as a workshop topic.

At SB62, CGIAR will amplify the need for transformative action, linking soil health, water management, crop diversification, and rural livelihoods, to ensure agriculture transitions from climate vulnerability to a resilient climate solution. A shift in countries’ perceptions and positions around food systems approaches climate action and consensus on the need to transform not only production but also consumption.

 Gender

 In 2024, Kenya made a submission and recognized CGIAR Gender Impact Platform for its contributions to the country’s progress toward priorities laid out in the GAP including establishing gender and climate change platforms and support to negotiators to engage in UNFCCC processes and knowledge exchange forums. At COP29, after controversial discussions, Parties agreed to extend the enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender and its associated Gender Action Plan (GAP) for 10 years. Overcoming significant tensions around finance, inclusive language, and the framework’s placement under the UN climate processes. The final text avoided explicit finance commitments, reflecting the position of developed countries that such discussions should happen in broader finance negotiations. This disappointed developing countries that sought dedicated funding for gender-responsive policies.  

At SB62, CGIAR aims for renewed momentum in gender equality discussions, encouraging clearer recognition and funding pathways for gender-responsive climate action. CGIAR hopes that negotiations at SB62 will strengthen practical commitments to gender equity, paving the way for more targeted support in agricultural adaptation and resilience measures at COP30.

Non-market Approaches 

The Article 6.8 work programme under the Paris Agreement promotes voluntary cooperation among countries to implement their climate commitments (NDCs) in ways that support sustainable development and poverty reduction.It is worth noting that this differs from voluntary cooperation through carbon markets. In 2024, CGIAR actively contributed two submissions in this track, emphasizing the importance for stronger capacity-building and clearer guidelines for National Focal Points (NFPs), essential actors coordinating inclusive, sustainable NMAs aligned with national priorities.

At COP29, Parties acknowledged initial challenges, including limited platform participation (only one NMA submitted), but anticipated increased future engagement through enhanced stakeholder outreach and a practical, learning-by-doing approach. Spin-off groups were proposed for targeted thematic discussions, and Parties were encouraged to explore barriers and solutions to NMA implementation ahead of SB62.

CGIAR, through the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, has actively engaged as a support provider, recently submitting detailed recommendations on improving the functionality of the NMA Platform. These recommendations call for clearer guidance on how providers can engage beyond initial registration, emphasizing the need for structured matchmaking between country needs and available expertise, regular updates on support services, and accessible channels for technical assistance.

At SB62, we hope to see coordination, clearer implementation guidelines, and enhanced capacity-building support for NFPs, particularly around technical skills, stakeholder engagement, gender integration, and greenhouse gas quantification. CGIAR goal for SB62 is to engage with negotiators on supporting identification and registration of NMAs on the UNFCCC NMA Platform.

Loss and Damage

Loss and Damage (L&D) refers to unavoidable climate impacts surpassing communities’ adaptive capacities, such as damaged infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods, and losses of cultural heritage and biodiversity. L&D is fundamentally linked to climate justice, as countries facing severe impacts often contribute the least to global emissions.

The urgency to address L&D has escalated in recent climate negotiations. Key milestones include establishing the SBI Work Programme on L&D (COP16, 2010), creating the Warsaw International Mechanism (COP19, 2013) for knowledge-sharing and financial support, and launching the Santiago Network (COP25, 2019) for technical assistance. At COP28 (2023), countries achieved a breakthrough, operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund (FRLD) and committing $420 million, appointing its first Executive Director, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, in 2024.

In October 2024, CGIAR produced an issue brief series ahead of COP29, with one detailing how scientific evidence, especially related to food systems, can guide decisions and improve outcomes of the new Loss and Damage Fund. Despite limited progress on the Warsaw Mechanism at COP29, Parties finalized procedural rules for the Santiago Network Advisory Board, paving the way for future operational effectiveness.

At SB62, CGIAR will seek the integration of agriculture and food systems within the L&D framework and emphasize complementarity with existing climate finance streams. CGIAR expects that SB62 outcomes will establish connections with key loss and damage stakeholders, laying the ground for CGIAR’s deeper engagement in future discussions. Enhanced coordination between CGIAR and UNFCCC mechanisms, including potential collaboration on Santiago Network regional offices or knowledge products.

Just Transitions

Just Transition focuses on shifting to a low-carbon economy in ways that support affected workers, communities, and industries, promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. According to the IPCC, achieving a just transition requires targeted, proactive efforts from governments and stakeholders to minimize adverse impacts.

At COP27, world leaders agreed on the Work Programme on Just Transition Pathways, highlighting financing and inclusive engagement. COP28 emphasized gender through the Gender-Responsive Just Transitions and Climate Action Partnerships, now with 82 signatures.

In 2024, CGIAR and FAO jointly submitted views to the UAE Just Transition Work Programme, advocating a comprehensive, people-centric approach. However, COP29 ended without agreement on the Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP), primarily due to disagreements between developed and developing countries over the scope, with developed nations favoring mitigation and developing nations emphasizing adaptation, finance, equity, and labour rights.

Just Transition is key for the agriculture sector, in CGIAR’s 2025 “Submission to the UNFCCC United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme – views relevant to the topic of the third dialogue” CGIAR stresses the importance of a just transition for agriculture, recognizing agrifood systems as both vulnerable to climate change and significant emission sources. The submission calls for capacity building, multistakeholder partnerships, and targeted social support. CGIAR recommends policymakers prioritize protection for agricultural workers, enhance sustainable practices through capacity-building, manage socio-economic transitions effectively, ensure equitable access to climate-smart agriculture finance and technology, and align agriculture with broader sustainability goals. CGIAR aims to highlight these strategies at SB62, advocating for inclusive, climate-resilient agrifood system transformations

Moving from SB62 to Strong Commitments at COP30

CGIAR approaches SB62, aiming for meaningful integration of agriculture into global climate policy. Key expectations include explicit recognition of agricultural needs in climate finance frameworks, clear pathways linking adaptation efforts directly to improved farming practices and outcomes, enhanced support for non-market approaches like agroecology and soil carbon management, and inclusive just transition planning that addresses the unique vulnerabilities of farmers and food system workers. CGIAR’s continued advocacy, grounded in rigorous research and practical innovation, seeks to ensure SB62 outcomes reinforce agriculture’s essential role, paving the way toward COP30 in Belém, Brazil, with strengthened commitments and targeted resources for climate-resilient, sustainable food systems.

2025 submissions made by CGIAR and its centres on the 7 tracks

• 2025 global dialogues of the Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme .
• Systemic and Holistic Approaches to Climate Action on Agriculture, Food Systems, and Food Security.
• Systemic and Holistic Approaches to Implementation of Climate Action on Agriculture, Food Systems and Food Security, Understanding, Cooperation and Integration into Plans
• Submission to the UNFCCC United Arab Emirates Just Transition Work Programme – views relevant to the topic of the third dialogue
•  Detailed recommendations on improving the functionality of the NMA Platform

Authors: Regina Edward-Uwadiale, CGIAR Climate Action, Daniela Miranda, CGIAR Climate Action, Aditi Mukherji, CGIAR Climate Impact Platform, with contributions from Eliza Villarino, The Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, and Lucy Njuguna, the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT