CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes at COP30: Advancing Adaptation and Nature-Based Solutions 

COP30 in Belém, Brazil is being heralded as a pivotal “COP of adaptation” and a turning point for implementing climate solutions on the ground. The Brazilian COP30 Presidency’s communications emphasize three core priorities: strengthening multilateralism, connecting climate action to people’s daily lives, and accelerating implementation. There is a strong focus on protecting vital ecosystems – especially the Amazon – and integrating climate action with biodiversity and sustainable development goals through broad stakeholder participation. These themes resonate strongly with the mission of CGIAR’s Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) Science Program, which pursues integrated solutions for climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, food security, and livelihoods in tandem. 

CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes (MFL) works across five interrelated areas, all of which echo COP30’s agenda: We co-develop Agroecology+ solutions that blend science and local knowledge to boost productivity and nutrition while restoring soils, biodiversity, and carbon stocks. We pair this with inclusive landscape planning using tools such as digital twins and scenario modeling to balance agriculture, conservation, and climate goals. To scale impact, we design green finance and market mechanisms, from valuing ecosystem services to circular economy approaches, aligning with COP30’s push to expand climate finance for adaptation. 

We also strengthen governance and inclusion, supporting institutions and policies that place Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the center of climate solutions, so no one is left behind. Finally, our evidence and monitoring systems assessment frameworks and AI-enabled digital tools generate measurable data on biodiversity, soil health, and resilience. This emphasis on implementation and accountability mirrors COP30’s focus on tracking progress toward climate and biodiversity targets and directing investment to what works. 

As part of our pre‑COP engagement, we convened a COP30 webinar series with CGIAR Climate Action Science Program, Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), and Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) to align science, policy, and finance and share Brazilian lessons on biosolutions and landscape governance—inputs that inform our advocacy and events in Belém.

Tracking the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) 

One key negotiation track at COP30 that we will be closely following is the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). The GGA, established under the Paris Agreement, aims to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability globally – but it needs concrete operationalization. At COP30, parties are expected to deliver on the GGA through the new UAE–Belém work program, agreeing on measurable indicators to track progress.  

For CGIAR’s Multifunctional Landscapes program, this is highly relevant. Our research demonstrates how climate-resilient farming and landscape practices contribute to exactly the kinds of outcomes the GGA seeks to measure – from improved crop and livestock diversity to healthier soils and water systems, to more resilient rural livelihoods. By sharing evidence of successful adaptation interventions, we aim to inform the GGA’s development and show negotiators practical pathways to achieve adaptation targets, as well as opportunities for adaptive management.  

CGIAR at COP30: Events and Engagements 

Beyond tracking negotiations, the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes team is actively participating in COP30 through side events and knowledge-sharing across multiple forums. We are co-hosting two key events at the joint CGIAR–FAO Food Systems Pavilion (Blue Zone), focused on our core themes of resilient landscapes and sustainable agriculture solutions: 

• Nov 12 – “Sustainable Finance and Policy to Scale Biosolutions for Soil Health and Climate Action” (15:30–16:30, Food & Agriculture Pavilion): This session will bring together experts from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Embrapa, CGIAR, and partners to discuss how aligning policy and investment can accelerate the use of biological solutions (like biofertilizers and biopesticides) for healthier soils and climate mitigation. Brazil’s recent “bioinputs” revolution offers a compelling case – in just four years, supportive policies helped triple the bioinputs market and enabled over a thousand farmers to drastically cut synthetic pesticide use. The event will highlight such success stories and explore what policy reforms, market incentives, and blended finance are needed globally to scale these nature-based innovations.  

• Nov 19 – “Climate-Resilient Landscapes for the GGA: Indicator-Aligned Innovations for Land, Water and Biodiversity Restoration” (17:00–18:00, Food & Agriculture Pavilion): This side event, organized by the CGIAR MFL program, will showcase integrated landscape solutions that directly contribute to adaptation goals under the GGA. Drawing on evidence from CGIAR and partners, we will demonstrate how multifunctional approaches – such as integrated soil–water–crop–livestock–forestry systems, agroforestry and agrosilvopastoral practices, agrobiodiversity conservation, and circular bioeconomy models – strengthen resilience while restoring ecosystems and enhancing livelihoods. Notably, discussions will be framed around specific GGA indicators (e.g. increasing area of agricultural land under climate-resilient practices) to show policymakers tangible examples of progress. The goal is to deliver actionable messages on how landscape restoration and regenerative agriculture can be scaled up as part of national adaptation plans and climate strategies. 

In addition to these two CGIAR-led events, MFL scientists and experts are contributing to many other COP30 sessions. Over the two weeks, CGIAR researchers will speak or moderate in a wide array of panels, workshops and high-level dialogues – from discussions on climate-smart agriculture and agroecology, to forums on biodiversity, soil health, and finance. In total, CGIAR specialists are involved in dozens of events at COP30 (including many at the Food & Agriculture Pavilion), ensuring that our latest science and innovations inform the global climate conversation. This broad engagement reflects CGIAR’s commitment to partnership and knowledge-sharing: we work with governments, civil society, and the private sector to bridge science and action. By joining forces at COP30, we aim to amplify evidence-based solutions – demonstrating, for example, how climate-resilient farming can advance national climate commitments (NDCs), or how community-led landscape planning can achieve both mitigation and adaptation outcomes. 

Read more about all CGIAR COP30 events here.

Author: Regina Edward-Uwadiale