Singapore Pavilion Completes First Showcase At COP27

Singapore Pavilion @ COP27

The inaugural Pavilion at COP27 drew international attention to Singapore’s climate action strategies

Around 5,000 visitors visited the inaugural Singapore Pavilion at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), which ran from 6 to 18 November 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. It was supported by more than 100 partners from corporates, media, academic, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Themed around ‘Building a Future of Green Possibilities’, the Pavilion displayed exhibits that showcased the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and organised events that highlighted Singapore’s vision of achieving a net zero future by 2050. These included the Singapore-Egypt Joint Food Resilience Event, which was attended by Dr Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment of the Arabic Republic of Egypt, and the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on carbon markets cooperation with Papua New Guinea and Peru.

Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu, noted in her National Statement at the COP27 High Level Segment that the Pavilion represented a convergence of key climate action stakeholders, encapsulated the Singapore approach to climate action and showcased sustainability solutions that were making on-ground impact. She also reiterated the COP27 Presidency’s call to work Together for Implementation and emphasised that Singapore remained open to sharing and exchange knowledge and best practices for a successful green transition.

#ActionOnFood: COP27 Food Systems Pavilion 

Leading international organisations joined forces to put food on the table at COP27. This first ever Food Systems Pavilion brought together over 15 international leaders in the food space spanning the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, from farmers and youth to policy makers and scientists. This diversity of expertise and perspectives set it apart from other coalitions, with co-hosts and partners committing to work collaboratively to tackle trade-offs, showcase solutions and overcome barriers.

Participating organisations include co-hosts Clim-Eat, Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH), EIT Food, Environmental Defense Fund, FOLU, Good Food Institute, Infarm, SNV and Yara International; session partners Aleph Farms, Food Tank, Just Rural Transition, One Acre Fund and Rabobank; and supporting partners World Farmers’ Organisation, World Food Forum, YPARD, IAAS World and YOUNGO.

Dr Dhanush Dinesh, Clim-Eat founder, commented: “New visions are needed for how food systems will operate in the future, and the central role of farmers and small-scale agriculture as positive agents of change. Business as usual is not an option. To address these issues publicly and collaboratively, we are bringing together farmers, food producers, NGOs, businesses, youth, Indigenous Peoples, governments and intergovernmental organisations in the first ever Food Systems Pavilion. We believe COP27 will represent a critical turning point for our food systems. We urge all interested parties to join us in championing #ActionOnFood and making this the food COP.”

With agriculture and food systems contributing over one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, there are many complex challenges to overcome but also huge opportunities. Transforming the world’s food systems could generate $4.5 trillion annually in new economic activity and help to create a net-zero, nature-positive world, while also ensuring social justice and food security.

At the previous COP in Glasgow, policy makers took the first steps towards recognising the critical role of food and agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At COP27, the Food Systems Pavilion co-hosts wanted to substantially advance this agenda and put food centre stage.

Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to the 2021 Food Systems Summit and FOLU Ambassador, said: “We must ensure that food dominates the COP27 agenda. It has been the missing piece in climate negotiations for far too long. Yet, Africa is putting huge bets on a COP on the continent.  We hope that the world recognizes that our ability to produce food is fast being eroded, our adaptation capacity is the weakest, and how food is produced in parts of the world creates problems we must address.

“Transforming our food systems unlocks opportunities to significantly reduce GHG emissions, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and provide solutions to some of the most pressing environmental and social issues of our time.

“Without urgent action on climate change, an additional 100 million people in Africa could be pulled into extreme poverty in the next eight seasons – that’s more than 10 million people every year between now and 2030 – people that have until now been feeding themselves! Timely action on food systems is essential to stop more people from sliding into poverty and food insecurity – it is good for both people and the planet.”

The Food Systems Pavilion will focus on actions, strategies and solutions spanning the entire food value chain which offer the potential to accelerate the transition to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems for all.

MORE FOR YOU:

Persistent Lifestyle Challenges Prevent Consumers From Unlocking Their Health Goals
Singapore First Country To Approve Solein, A Protein ‘Made From Air’
Innova: Top Ten Food Trends In 2023
Expanding Cultivated Seafood Without Harming Sea Life
Upcycling Food Waste
Probiotic Strains That Can Relieve Stress-Induced Symptoms
Aptar Food + Beverage Receives RecyClass Approval
Cargill Partners EDB Singapore To Promote Food & Agriculture Innovation
TOMRA: Why The Food Industry Needs To Think About Sustainability
Palsgaard Helps Cake Manufacturers Crack High Egg Prices
Irish Food Board (Bord Bia) Launches Business Strategy For South East Asia
Manufacturing Processes Influence The Amount Of Microplastics In Food
Concerns Over Climate Change And Food Shortages Escalate