Welcome
Climate Policy Is Also Food Policy
Antalya, 9–20 November 2026 – Climate change remains one of the defining global challenges of our time. In Antalya, the focus will once again be on how shared climate goals can be translated into tangible action.
COP31 is all about implementation: how can international climate targets be turned into concrete action? Alongside the transition to clean energy, the protection of natural resources and adaptation to climate change, agriculture and food security are also moving up the agenda.
The effects of climate change are particularly visible where our food is produced. Droughts, floods and extreme temperatures threaten harvests, put pressure on water resources and make life increasingly difficult for rural communities. For millions of people, this is about more than protecting the environment: it is about livelihoods, income and access to adequate food.
At the same time, sustainable agrifood systems can be part of the solution. Climate-resilient agriculture, the responsible management of water and soil, and more resilient supply chains can help mitigate the effects of climate change while also reducing emissions. It is no coincidence that the COP31 thematic programme opens on 9 November with a day dedicated to Food, Agriculture and Health.
Germany, too, sees climate action, adaptation and food security as closely interconnected. International cooperation plays a key role in this respect. The task is to share knowledge and technologies, mobilise investment and, in particular, support countries that are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
For the UN organisations based in Rome – FAO, IFAD and WFP – the link between climate, agriculture and food security is central to their work. COP31 offers another opportunity to advance these issues together and to highlight that effective climate policy goes far beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Background Information
COP stands for “Conference of the Parties”, the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It is the central forum for international climate negotiations. Since 1995, the Parties to the Convention have met annually to discuss joint action on climate change and advance the implementation of international climate agreements.
A key milestone in this process was the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015.