Agriculture and Climate Change: Post-Durban issues for negotiators

The document analyzes the first official recognition of agriculture by the UNFCCC at COP 17 in Durban. It reviews submissions from 21 parties to the SBSTA, highlighting a tension between developed countries' focus on scientific mitigation and developing countries' priority on adaptation and food security. The briefing argues that agriculture requires a unique approach to emission reductions—potentially based on efficiency per unit of production—due to the necessity of increasing food supplies for a growing global population. It identifies key points of divergence, including trade implications and the role of smallholder farmers, while suggesting areas of consensus such as the link between agriculture and food security.

• The COP 17 Durban outcomes marked the first time agriculture was officially recognized by the UNFCCC, requesting the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to consider agriculture-related issues with the goal of a decision at COP 18.
• There is a significant divergence in priorities between developed and developing nations: developing countries emphasize adaptation as the primary priority to ensure food security, while developed countries suggest a broader focus on scientific research, GHG measurement, and mitigation synergies.
• Developing countries, particularly large ones, express concern that defining 'good practice' for climate-friendly agriculture within the UNFCCC could lead to unilateral trade restrictions by importing nations outside the regime.
• Agriculture may require a different approach to emission reductions than the absolute approach used in energy or industry, such as an efficiency-based approach (emissions per unit of production), because food production must increase to feed a growing population.
• Some civil society organizations oppose the inclusion of agriculture in the UNFCCC, arguing that a focus on climate-efficient methods could favor industrial agriculture over small-scale farming and that soil carbon sequestration might be used as an offset to delay real emission reductions in developed countries.
• Effective future agreements may require targeted grant financing and special consideration for smallholder farmers in least developed and poorer developing countries to enhance resilience and food security.

APA

Murphy, D., & Boyle, J. (2012). Agriculture and Climate Change: Post-Durban issues for negotiators. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/agriculture_climate_change_durban.pdf

Chicago

Murphy, Deborah, and Jessica Boyle. Agriculture and Climate Change: Post-Durban issues for negotiators. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2012. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/agriculture_climate_change_durban.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Murphy |first1=Deborah |last2=Boyle |first2=Jessica |title=Agriculture and Climate Change: Post-Durban issues for negotiators |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2012 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/agriculture_climate_change_durban.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{murphy2012agriculture, author = {Murphy, Deborah and Boyle, Jessica}, title = {{Agriculture and Climate Change: Post-Durban issues for negotiators}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2012}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/agriculture_climate_change_durban.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }