Dubai: Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) has hosted the second edition of the Arab Climate Forum ahead of COP28. The event is organized by the Arab NGO Network for Development in partnership with the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND).
Under the patronage of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chairman of AGFUND, the two-day event with the theme “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Together to Achieve the Resilience and Social Development of Small-Scale Farmers” is being held at the Sofitel Downtown Hotel in Dubai.
The forum aims to assess the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector and small farmers in Arab countries and mechanisms for enhancing the steadfastness and flexibility of small farmers.
Dr. Ali Al Marri, Executive President of MBRSG, remarked that, “The school’s strategic and knowledge partnership to host the forum is in line with UAE’s hosting COP28 and with the country’s theme as the year of sustainability, and based on the school’s keenness to support research projects and initiatives aimed at mitigating challenges resulting from climate change and its effects on development, environment, sustainable agriculture, and food security in the Arab world.”
“The school seeks, in partnership with AGFUND and the Arab Network for Non-Governmental Organisations, to monitor and evaluate the repercussions of climate change on the supply chains of food products and livestock and to support the initiatives of Arab civil organizations seeking to adopt climate-smart agriculture methods and preserve livestock,” Mr. Al Marri added.
The forum witnessed a speech by Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal Al Saud and a recorded speech by Ms. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, Mr. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, and Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary General, Head of Social Affairs Sector at the League of Arab States, and representatives of international institutions such as the World Bank and academic institutions.
During its sessions, the forum discussed the most effective programs and initiatives adopted by Arab civil organizations to enhance the capabilities of small farmers to adapt and adopt climate-smart agricultural methods and preserve livestock. It also included launching the first annual climate change and development report titled ‘The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Small Farmers in the Arab Region.’
Dr. Nasser Al-Qahtani, Executive Director of AGFUND, pointed out that, “The second edition of the forum focuses on monitoring and evaluating the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector, livestock, and food security in the Arab region, with a focus on small-scale farmers, who represent the backbone of family farming – in the Arab region and developing countries, and the consequences of climate change on food security, food supply chains, and livestock.”